Systems and methods for cache streams

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of systems and methods to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys. In various embodiments, a system is configured to identify (or “derive”) the various server locations of various data values, to send requests to the various servers for the needed data values, to receive the data values from the various servers, and to process the various data values received. In various embodiments, requests are sent and data values are received via a switching network. In various embodiments, the servers are organized in a key value store, which may optionally be a shared memory pool. Various embodiments are systems and methods with a small number of compute elements and servers, but in alternative embodiments the elements may be expanded to hundreds or thousands of compute elements and servers.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims priority under 35 USC §120 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/089,453, filed on Dec. 9, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present application is also related to and claims priority under 35 USC §120 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/109,663, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

One of the great costs of electronic processing is the inefficiencies introduced by sub-optimal timing and utilization of resources. Such inefficiencies can be reduced by a balance between computation and data acquisition, thereby increasing the utilization of system resources and particularly of the CPU. In recent years, the speed of data acquisition has improved greatly, and this change has created opportunities to further increase efficiency of resource utilization. There is hence a need for additional balancing and careful timing, such that resource utilization may be further increased.

SUMMARY

Described herein are systems and methods to use compute elements to request, receive, and process, relatively efficiently and with a relatively high utilization of system resources, a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys.

One embodiment is a system that is configured to use efficiently at least one compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers, using a plurality of keys. In one particular form of such embodiment, the system includes a first compute element associated with a first cache memory, and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) which includes a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys. The plurality of servers are communicatively connected with other elements of the system, particularly with the first cache memory via a switching network, and optionally directly with the first compute element, also via a switching network. In some particular embodiments, the system is configured to send from the first compute element to a second server, using a second key and via the switching network, a new request to receive a second value associated with the second key. Also in these particular embodiments, the system is configured to receive, via the switching network and from the first server, the first of the plurality of values. This value may be received directly into cache memory or directly into the first compute element. In some particular embodiments, after the system has sent a request to receive a second value and after the system has received the first value, the system is further configured to process in the first compute element and in conjunction with said first cache memory, the first value received, while simultaneously the second server and the switching network handle the new request for a second value. In some particular embodiments, after the system has sent a request to receive a second value, received the first value, and processed the first value received, the system is further configured to derive in the first compute element, from a third key, during a first period that is prior to receiving and processing the second value, an identity of a third server to which will be sent a future request for a third value. In the various embodiments described, both the intent and the effect are to facilitate efficient utilisation of system resources.

One embodiment is a method for mixing and timing, relatively efficiently, at least two key-value transactions in conjunction with a key-value-store (KVS). In one particular form of such embodiment, a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller starts a first process of receiving, via a switching network, from a first of a plurality of servers, and directly into a first cache memory associated with a first compute element, a first of a plurality of values previously requested and associated with a first of a plurality of keys. Further, the first compute element derives from a second key, simultaneously with at least one part of said first process, an identity of a second server to which to send a new request for a second value. Further, the first compute element sends to the second server, via the switching network, the new request. Further, the DMA controller finishes the first process of receiving a value. Further, the first computer element processes the first value received, in said first compute element, simultaneously with the second server and switching network handling the new request.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium;

FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet;

FIG. 1C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to implement a cache related memory transaction over a shared input-output medium;

FIG. 1D illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to implement a general communication transaction over a shared input-output medium;

FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to transmit data packets associated with both either a cache related memory transaction or a general communication transactions;

FIG. 2B illustrates one embodiment of a system designed to temporarily stop and then resume the communication of data packets for general communication transactions;

FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which such shared input-output medium is a PCIE computer expansion bus, and the medium controller is a root complex;

FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which such shared input-output medium is an Ethernet connection, and the medium controller is a MAC layer;

FIG. 3C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which such shared input-output medium is an InfiniBand interconnect;

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet, and in which the system is implemented in a single microchip. In some embodiments, the various elements presented in FIG. 4 may be implemented in two or more microchips;

FIG. 5A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet, and in which there is a fiber optic line and electrical/optical interfaces;

FIG. 5B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet, and in which there are two or more fiber optic lines, and in which each fiber optic line has two or more electrical/optical interfaces;

FIG. 6A illustrates one embodiment of a method for stopping transmission of a data packet associated with a general communication transaction, and starting transmission of a data packet associated with a cache agent;

FIG. 6B illustrates one embodiment of a method for delaying transmission of a data packet associated with a general communication transaction, and transmitting instead a data packet associated with a cache agent;

FIG. 7A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache automatically an external memory element as a result of a random-access read cycle;

FIG. 7B illustrates one embodiment of prolonged synchronous random-access read cycle;

FIG. 7C illustrates one embodiment of a system with a random access memory that is fetching at least one data element from an external memory element, serving it to a compute element, and writing it to the random access memory;

FIG. 7D illustrates one embodiment of a DIMM system configured to implement communication between an external memory element, a first RAM, and a first computer element;

FIG. 7E illustrates one embodiment of a system controller configured to fetch additional data elements from additional memory locations of an external memory, and write such data elements to RAM memory;

FIG. 7F illustrates one embodiment of a process by which a system the writing of additional data elements to RAM memory occurs essentially concurrently with additional synchronous random-access write cycles;

FIG. 8A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules;

FIG. 8B illustrates one embodiment of system configured to fetch sets of data from a shared memory pool;

FIG. 8C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which a first compute element is placed on a first motherboard, a first DIMM module is connected to the first motherboard via a first DIMM slot, and first data link is comprised of a first optical fiber;

FIG. 8D illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which a second compute element is placed on a second motherboard, a second DIMM module is connected to the second motherboard via a second DIMM slot, and a second data link is comprised of a second optical fiber;

FIG. 8E illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which each of the memory modules and the shared memory pool resides in a different server;

FIG. 8F illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which a first memory module includes a first RAM operative to cache sets of data, a first interface is configured to communicate with a first compute element, and a second interface is configured to transact with the shared memory pool;

FIG. 8G illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which sets of data are arranged in a page format;

FIG. 8H illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, wherein a memory module includes a first RAM comprising a first bank of RAM and a second bank of RAM;

FIG. 8I illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, wherein a memory module includes a first RAM comprising a first bank of RAM and a second bank of RAM;

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to propagate data among a plurality of computer elements via a shared memory pool;

FIG. 10A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network;

FIG. 10B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network;

FIG. 10C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network and a plurality of optical fiber data interfaces;

FIG. 10D illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network, and a second plurality of servers housing a second plurality of memory modules;

FIG. 11A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys;

FIG. 11B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to request and receive data values needed for data processing;

FIG. 11C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to streamline a process of retrieving a plurality of values from a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys;

FIG. 11D illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to minimize or at least reduce the duration of time periods between general tasks executed by a first compute element;

FIG. 11E illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to increase the utilisation rate of a first compute element;

FIG. 11F illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to achieve a relatively high computational duty-cycle by at least temporarily blocking or redirecting the execution of certain processes;

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing and timing, relatively efficiently, at least two key-value transactions in conjunction with a distributed key-value-store (KVS);

FIG. 13A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to interleave high priority key-value transactions together with lower priority transactions over a shared input-output medium;

FIG. 13B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to interleave high priority key-value transactions together with lower priority transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which both types of transactions are packet-based transactions;

FIG. 13C illustrates one embodiment of part of a system configured to interleave high priority key-value transactions together with lower priority transactions over a shared input-output medium, comprising a network-interface-card (NIC) including a medium-access-controller (MAC);

FIG. 14A illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing high priority key-value transaction together with lower priority transactions over a shared input-output medium without adversely affecting performance;

FIG. 14B illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing high priority key-value transactions together with lower priority transactions over a shared input-output medium without adversely affecting performance;

FIG. 14C illustrates one embodiment of a method for reducing latency associated with a key-value transaction involving a distributed data store interconnected by a network;

FIG. 15A illustrates one embodiment of a system operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool;

FIG. 15B illustrates one embodiment of a sub-system with an access controller that includes a secured configuration which may be updated by a reliable source;

FIG. 15C illustrates one alternative embodiment of a system operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool;

FIG. 16A illustrates one embodiment of a method for determining authorization to retrieve a value in a key-value store while preserving low latency associated with random-access retrieval; and

FIG. 16B illustrates one alternative embodiment of a method for determining authorization to retrieve a value in a key-value store while preserving low latency associated with random-access retrieval.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Glossary

In this description, “cache related memory transaction” or a “direct cache related memory transaction” is a transfer of one or more data packets to or from a cache memory. A “latency-critical cache transaction” is a cache transaction in which delay of a data packet to or from the cache memory is likely to delay execution of the task being implemented by the system.

In this description, “general communication transaction” is a transfer of one or more data packets from one part of a communication system to another part, where neither part is a cache memory.

In this description, a “communication transaction” is a transfer of one or more data packets from one part of a communication system to another part. This term includes both “cache related memory transaction” and “general communication transaction”.

In this description, a “shared input-output medium” is part of a system that receives or sends both a data packet in a cache related memory transaction and a data packet in a general communication transaction. Non-limiting examples of “shared input-output medium” include a PCIE computer extension bus, an Ethernet connection, and an InfiniBand interconnect.

In this description, an “external I/O element” is a structural element outside of the system. Non-limiting examples include a hard disc, a graphic card, and a network adapter.

In this description, an “external memory element” is a structure outside the system that holds data which may be accessed by the system in order to complete a cache related memory transaction or other memory transactions.

In this description, “cache-coherency” is the outcome of a process by which consistency is achieved between a cache memory and one or more additional cache memory locations inside or external to the system. Generally, data will be copied from one source to the other, such that coherency is achieved and maintained. There may be a separate protocol, called a “cache-coherency protocol”, in order to implement cache-coherency.

In this description, an “electro-optical interface” is a structure that allows conversion of an electrical signal into an optical signal, or vice versa.

In this description, a “prolonged synchronous random-access read cycle” is a synchronous RAM read cycle that has been lengthened in time to permit access from an external memory element.

In this description, “shared memory pool” is a plurality of memory modules that are accessible to at least two separate data consumers in order to facilitate memory disaggregation in a system.

In this description, “simultaneously” means “essentially simultaneously”. In other words, two or more operations occur within a single time period. This does not mean necessarily that each operation consumes the same amount of time—that is one possibility, but in other embodiments simultaneously occurring operations consume different amounts of time. This also does not mean necessarily that the two operations are occurring continuously—that is one possibility, but in other embodiments an operation may occur in discrete steps within the single time period. In this description, “simultaneity” is the action of two or more operations occurring “simultaneously”.

In this description, “efficiently” is a characterization of an operation whose intention and/or effect is to increase the utilization rate of one or more structural elements of a system. Hence, “to efficiently use a compute element” is an operation that is structured and timed such that the utilization rate of the compute element is increased. Hence, “efficiently mixing and timing at least two key-value transactions” is an operation by which two or more needed data values are identified, requested, received, and processed, in such a manner that the utilization rate of the compute element in increased.

In this description, “utilization rate” is the percentage of time that a structural element of a system is engaged in useful activity. The opposite of “utilization rate” is “idle rate”.

In this description, a “needed data value” is a data element that is held by a server and needed by a compute element to complete a compute operation being conducted by the compute element. The phrase “data value” and the word “value” are the same as “needed data value”, since it is understand that in all cases a “value” is a “data value” and in all cases a “data value” is needed by a compute element for the purpose just described.

In this description, “derive” is the operation by which a compute element determines that a needed data value is held by one or more specific servers. The phrase “derive” sometimes appears as “identify”, since the objective and end of this operation is to identify the specific server or servers holding the needed data value. If a needed data value is held in two or more servers, in some embodiments the compute element will identify the specific server that will be asked to send the needed data value.

In this description, “request” is the operation by which a compute element asks to receive a needed set of data or data value from a server holding that set of data or data value. The request may be sent from the compute element to either a NIC and then to a switched network or directly to the switched network. The request is then sent from the switched network to the server holding the needed data value. The request may be sent over a data bus.

In this description, “propagation of a request” for a needed data value is the period of time that passes from the moment a compute element first sends a request to the moment that that the request is received by a server holding the needed data value.

In this description, “get” is the operation by which a compute element receives a needed data value from a server. The needed data value is sent from the server to a switching network, optionally to a NIC and then optionally to a DMA controller or directly to the DMA controller, and from the DMA controller or the NIC or the switching network either directly to the compute element or to a cache memory from which the compute element will receive the needed data value.

In this description, “process” is the operation by which a compute element performs computations on a needed data value that it has received. In other words, the compute element fulfills the need by performing computations on the needed data element. If, for example, the social security number of a person is required, the “needed data value” may be the person's name and number, and the “process” may by the operation by which the compute element strips off the number and then applies it in another computation or operation.

In this description, “compute element” is that part of the system which performs traditional computational operations. In this description, it may be the part of the system that performs the derive, request, and process operations. In some embodiments, the compute element also receives the needed data value from a server, via a switching network, a DMA, and optionally a NIC. In other embodiments, the requested data value is not received directly by the compute element, but is received rather by the cache memory, in which case the compute element obtains the needed value from the cache memory. A compute element may or may not be part of a CPU that includes multiple compute elements.

In this description, “executing the request” is the operation during which a server that has received a request for a needed data value identifies the location of the needed data value and prepares to send the needed data value to a switching network.

In this description, “key-value transaction” is the set of all the operations in which a location of a needed data value is “derived” from a key, the data value is “requested” optionally with the key sent by a compute element through a communication network to a server holding the data value, the request received by the server, “executed” by the server, the data value sent by the server through the communication network, “gotten” by the compute element, and “processed” by the compute element.

In this description, “latency-critical” means that a delay of processing a certain request for a value may cause a delay in system operation, thereby introducing an inefficiency into the system and degrading system performance. In some embodiments, the period of time for a “latency-critical” operation is predefined, which means that exceeding that predefined time will or at least may degrade system performance, whereas completing the operation within that period of time will not degrade system performance. In other embodiments, the time period that is “latency-critical” is predefined, but is also flexible depending on circumstances at the particular moment of performing the latency-critical operation.

In this description, “determining” whether a compute element is authorized to access a particular data set in a shared memory pool is the process that determines whether a particular compute element in a system has been authorized by some reliable source to access a particular data set that is stored in a shared memory pool.

In this description, “accessing” a data set encompasses any or all of entering an original value in a data set, requesting to receive an existing data set, receiving an existing data set, and modifying one or more values in an existing data set.

In this description, “preventing” delivery of a data set to a compute element is the process by which an access controller or other part of a system prevents such data set from being delivered to the compute element, even though specifically requested by the compute element. In some cases, denial of access is total, such that the compute element may not access any part of the data set. In some cases, denial access is partial, such that the compute element may access part but not all of a data set. In some cases, denial is conditional, such that the compute element may not access the data set in its current form, but the system may modify the data set such that the compute element may access the modified data set. The prevention of delivery may be achieved using various techniques, such as blocking of communication, interfering with electronic processes, interfering with software processes, altering addresses, altering data, or any other way resulting in such prevention.

In this description, “data set” is a data structure that a compute element might access in order for the compute element to process a certain function. A data set may be a single data item, or may be multiple data items of any number or length.

In this description, a “server” may be a computer of any kind, a motherboard (MB), or any other holder of structures for either or both of data memory and data processing.

In this description, “random access memory” may include RAM, DRAM, flash memory, or any other type of memory element that allows random access to the memory element, or at least a random access read cycle in conjunction with the memory element. The term does not include any type of storage element that must be accessed sequentially, such as a sequentially-accessed hard disk drive (HDD) or a sequentially accessed optical disc.

FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of a system 100 configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium 105. The system 100 includes a number of computing elements, including a first compute element 100-c 1 through N-th compute element 100-cn. The compute elements are in communicative contact with a cache memory 101, which is in communicative contact with a cache agent 101-ca that controls communication between the cache memory 101 and a medium controller 105-mc. The medium controller 105-mc controls communication between the cache agent 101-ca and a shared input-output medium 105, which is communicative contact with an external memory elements 112 that is outside the system 100.

FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of a system 100 configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium 105, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet. Here two transactions are illustrated. One transaction 101-tran is a cache related memory transaction between the cache memory 101 and the external memory element 112, via the cache agent 101-ca, the medium controller 105-mc, and the shared input-output medium 105. Transaction 101-tran can go to the cache memory 101, or to the external memory element 112, or in both directions, and may include a cache-coherency transaction. In some embodiments, there is an additional path 101-init between the cache agent 101-ca and the cache memory 101, in which the cache agent initiates transaction 101-tran. The second transaction 106-tran, is a general communication transaction between a part of the system other than the cache memory 101, and some external element other than the external memory element 112, such as an external I/O elements 119 in FIG. 1D. This transaction 106-tran also goes through the shared input-output medium 105 and the medium controller 105-mc, but then continues to another part of the system rather than to the cache agent 101-ca.

FIG. 1C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to implement a cache related memory transaction over a shared input-output medium 105. The DMA controller 105-dma performs copy operations 101-copy from the cache memory 101 into the media controller 105-mc, and from the media controller to the external memory element 112, or vice-versa.

FIG. 1D illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to implement a general communication transaction over a shared input-output medium 105. The DMA controller 105-dma performs copy operations 106-copy from a non-cache related source (not shown) into the media controller 105-mc, and from the media controller to the external I/O element 119, or vice-versa.

FIG. 2A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to transmit data packets associated with both either a cache related memory transaction or a general communication transactions. It illustrates that transactions occur in the form of data packets. The cache related memory transaction 101-tran includes a number of data packets, P1, P2, through Pn, that will pass through the medium controller 105-mc. Again, the data packets may flow in either or both ways, since data packets may transmit to or from the cache memory. The cache related memory transaction 101-tran is a packetized transaction 101-tran-P. In the same, or at least an overlapping time period, there is a general communication transaction 106-tran which includes a number of data packets P1, P2, through Pn, which are all part of the general communication transaction 106-tran that is a packetized transaction 106-tran-P. This packetized transaction 106-tran-P also passes through the medium controller 105-mc, and may pass in both directions.

FIG. 2B illustrates one embodiment of a system designed to temporarily stop and then resume the communication of data packets for general communication transactions. Here, a general packetized communication transaction 106-tran-P includes a first packet 106-tran-first-P. After transaction 106-tran-P has begun, but while first packet 106-tran-first-P is still in process, a packetized cache related memory transaction 101-tran-P begins with a second packet 101-trans-second-P. When the system understands that there are two transactions occurring at the same time, one of which is cache related memory 101-tran-P and the other 106-tran-P not, the system will cause the general communication transaction to stop 106-stop transmission of the particular data packet 106-tran-first-P. After all of the data packets of 101-tran-P have passed the system, the system will then allow the general communication transaction to resume 106-resume and complete the transmission of packet 106-tran-first-P. In some embodiments, the system will allow completion of a data packet from 106-tran-P when such packet is in mid-transmission, but in some embodiments the system will stop the data packet flow of 106-tran-P even in mid-packet, and will then repeat that packet when the transaction is resumed 106-resume. In some of the various embodiments, the particular element that understands there are two transactions at the same time, and that stops and then resumes 106-tran-P, is the medium controller element 105-mc or some other controller such as those illustrated and explained in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, below.

FIG. 3A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which such shared input-output medium is a PCIE computer expansion bus 105-pcie, and the medium controller is a root complex 105-root. In FIG. 3A, the specific shared input-output medium 105 is a PCIE computer expansion bus 105-pcie, and the specific medium controller 105-mc is a root complex 105-root. Both the cache related memory transaction 101-tran and the general communication transaction 106-tran pass through both 105-pcie and 105-root.

FIG. 3B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which such shared input-output medium is an Ethernet connection 105-eth, and the medium controller is a MAC layer 105-mac. In FIG. 3B, the specific shared input-output medium 105 is an Ethernet connection 105-eth, and the specific medium controller 105-mc is a MAC layer 105-mac. Both the cache related memory transaction 101-tran and the general communication transaction 106-tran pass through both 105-eth and 105-mac.

FIG. 3C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium, in which such shared input-output medium is an InfiniBand interconnect 105-inf.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium 105, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet, and in which the system is implemented in a single microchip. In some embodiments, the various elements presented in FIG. 4 may be implemented in two or more microchips. In FIG. 4, various elements of the system previously described are implemented in a single microchip 100-cpu. Such elements include various processing elements, 100 c-1 through 100-cn, a cache memory 101, a cache agent 101-ca, a medium controller 105-mc, and a shared input-output medium 105. In FIG. 4, there is a cache related memory transaction 101-tran between cache memory 101 and an external memory element 112. There is further a general communication transaction 106-tran between an external I/O element 119, such as a hard disc, a graphic card, or a network adapter, and a structure other than the cache memory 101. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the non-cache structure is a DRAM 110-dram, and the communication path between 110-dram and 119 includes a memory controller 110 as shown. The DRAM 110-dram may be part of a computer, and the entire microchip 100-cpu may itself be part of that computer. In other embodiments, the structure other than cache memory 101 may also be on chip 100-cpu but not cache memory 101, or the structure may be another component external to the chip 100-cpu other than DRAM 100-dram.

FIG. 5A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium 105, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet, and in which there is a fiber optic line 107-fiber-ab and electrical/optical interfaces 107-a and 107-b. In FIG. 5A, there is a cache related memory transaction 101-tran between cache memory 101 (not shown in FIG. 5A) and external memory element 112, in which data packets may move in both directions to and from the external I/O memory element 112, and electrical-optical interface 107 b, a shared input-output medium 105 which as illustrated here is a fiber optic line 107-fiber-ab and another electrical-optical interface 107-a, and a medium controller 105-mc. The connection from 112 to 107-b is electrical, the electrical signal is converted to optical signal at 107-b, and the signal is then reconverted back to an electrical signal at 107-a. FIG. 5A includes also a general communication transaction 106-tran between an external I/O element 119 and either a part of the system that is either not the cache memory 101 (not shown in FIG. 5A) or that is outside of the system, such as 110-dram (not shown in FIG. 5A). The signal conversions for 106-tran are the same as for 101-tran. In the event that 101-tran and 106-tran occur simultaneously or at least with an overlap in time, the medium control 101-mc will either stop and resume, or at least delay, the 106-tran data packets to give priority to the 101-tran data packets.

FIG. 5B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium 105, in which there is a conflict between a cache related memory I/O data packet and a general communication I/O data packet, and in which there are two or more fiber optic lines 107-fiber-cd and 107-fiber-ef, and in which each fiber optic line has two or more electrical/optical interfaces, 107-c and 107-d for 107-fiber-cd, and 107-e and 107-f for 107-fiber-ef. FIG. 5B presents one alternative structure to the structure shown in FIG. 5A. In FIG. 5B, the electrical-optical interfaces and the fiber optic line are not shared. Rather, cache related memory transaction 101-tran between external memory element 112 and cache memory 101 (not shown in FIG. 5B) occurs over e/o interface 107-d not shared with 106-tran, fiber optic line 107-fiber-cd not shared with 106-tran, e/o interface 107-c not shared with 106-tran, and medium controller 105-mc which is shared with 106-tran, and which senses multiple transactions and gives priority to 101-tran data packets. Also, general communication transaction 106-tran between external I/O element 119 and a non-cache element (not shown in FIG. 5B) occurs over e/o interface 107-f not shared with 101-tran, fiber optic line 107-fiber-ef not shared with 101-tran, e/o interface 107-e not shared with 101-tran, and medium controller 105-mc which is shared with 101-tran, senses multiple transactions, and give priority to 101-tran data packets.

One embodiment is a system 100 configured to mix cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium. Various embodiments include a shared input-output medium 105 associated with a medium controller 105-mc, a cache agent 101-ca, and a first cache memory 101 associated with said cache agent 101-ca. Further, in some embodiments, the cache agent 101-ca is configured to initiate 101-init direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran between the first cache memory 101 and an external memory element 112, via said shared input-output medium 105. Further, in some embodiments the medium controller 105-mc is configured to block general communication transactions 106-tran via said shared input-output medium 105 during the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran, thereby achieving the mix of transactions without delaying the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran.

In one alternative embodiment to the system just described, the medium controller 105-mc includes a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 105-dma configured to perform the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran by executing a direct copy operation 101-copy between the first cache memory 101 and the external memory element 112 via the shared input-output medium 105.

In one possible variation of the alternative embodiment just described, the direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 105-dma is further configured to perform the general communication transactions 106-tran by executing another direct copy operation 106-copy in conjunction with an external input-output element 119 via the shared input-output medium 105.

In a second alternative embodiment to the system of mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions, further the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran are latency-critical cache transactions. Further, the medium controller 105-mc is configured to interrupt any of the general communication transactions 106-tran and immediately commence the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran, thereby facilitating the latency criticality.

In one possible variation of the second alternative embodiment just described, further both said direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran and general communication transactions 106-tran are packet-based transactions 101-tran-P, and 106-tran-P is performed via the medium controller 105-mc in conjunction with the shared input-output medium 105. Further, the medium controller 105-mc is configured to stop 106-stop on-going communication of a first packet 106-tran-first-P belonging to the general communication transactions 106-tran via the shared input-output medium 105, and substantially immediately commence communication of a second packet 101-tran-second-P belonging to the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran via the shared input-output medium 105 instead, thereby achieving the interruption at the packet level.

In one possible configuration of the possible variation just described, further the medium controller 105-mc is configured to resume 106-resume communication of the first packet 106-tran-first-P after the second packet 101-tran-second-P has finished communicating, thereby facilitating packet fragmentation.

In a third alternative embodiment to the system of mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions, the shared input-output medium 105 is based on an interconnect element selected from a group consisting of (i) peripheral-component-interconnect-express (PCIE) computer expansion bus 105-pcie, (ii) Ethernet 105-eth, and (iii) InfiniBand 105-inf.

In one embodiment associated with the PCIE computer expansion bus 105-pcie, the medium controller 105-mc may be implemented as part of a root-complex 105-root associated with said PCIE computer expansion bus 105-pcie.

In one embodiment associated with the Ethernet 105-eth, the medium controller 105-mc may be implemented as part of a media-access-controller (MAC) 105-mac associated with said Ethernet 105-eth.

In a fourth alternative embodiment to the system of mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions, further the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran and general communication transactions 106-tran are packet-based transactions 101-tran-P, and 106-tran-P is performed via the medium controller 105-mc in conjunction with said the shared input-output medium 105. Further, the medium controller 105-mc is configured to deny access to the shared input-output medium 105 from a first packet 106-tran-first-P belonging to the general communication transactions 106-tran, and instead to grant access to the shared input-output medium 105 to a second packet 101-tran-second-P belonging to the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran, thereby giving higher priority to the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran over the general communication transactions 106-tran.

In a fifth alternative embodiment to the system of mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions, further there is at least a first compute element 100-c 1 associated with the cache memory 101, and there is a memory controller 110 associated with an external dynamic-random-access-memory (DRAM) 110-dram. Further, the system 100 is integrated inside a central-processing-unit (CPU) integrated-circuit 100-cpu, and at least some of the general communication transactions 106-tran are associated with the memory controller 110 and DRAM 110-dram.

In a sixth alternative embodiment to the system of mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions, further the system achieves the mix without delaying the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran, which allows the system 100 to execute cache-coherency protocols in conjunction with the cache memory 101 and the external memory element 112.

In a seventh alternative embodiment to the system of mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions, the shared input-output medium 105 includes an electro-optical interface 107-a and an optical fiber 107-fiber-ab operative to transport the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran and the general communication transactions 106-tran.

In an eighth alternative embodiment to the system of mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions, further including a first 107-c and a second 107-d electro-optical interface, both of which are associated with a first optical fiber 107-fiber-cd, and are operative to transport the direct cache related memory transactions 101-tran in conjunction with the medium controller 105 and the external memory element 112.

In a possible variation of the eighth alternative embodiment just described, further including a third 107-e and a fourth 107-f electro-optical interface, both of which are associated with a second optical fiber 107-fiber-ef, and are operative to transport the general communication transactions 106-tran in conjunction with the medium controller 105 and an external input-output element 119.

FIG. 6A illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing cache related memory transactions 101-tran together with general communication transactions 106-tran over a shared input-output medium 105 without adversely affecting cache performance. In step 1011, a medium controller 105-mc detects, in a medium controller 105-mc associated with a shared input-output medium 105, an indication from a cache agent 101-ca associated with a cache memory 101, that a second packet 101-tran-second-P associated with a cache related memory transactions 101-tran is pending. In step 1012, as a result of the indication, the medium controller 105-mc stops transmission of a first packet 106-tran-first-P associated with a general communication transactions 106-tran via the shared input-output medium 105. In step 1013, the medium controller 105-mc commences transmission of the second packet 101-tran-second-P via said the input-output medium 105, thereby preserving cache performance in conjunction with the cache related memory transactions 101-tran.

In a first alternative embodiment to the method just described, further the cache performance is associated with a performance parameter selected from a group consisting of: (i) latency, and (ii) bandwidth.

In a second alternative embodiment to the method just described for mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium without adversely affecting cache performance, further the general communication transactions 106-tran are packet-based transactions 106-tran-P performed via the medium controller 105-mc in conjunction with the shared input-output medium 105. Also, the cache performance is associated with latency and this latency is lower than a time required to transmit a shortest packet belonging to said packet-based transaction 106-tran-P.

FIG. 6B illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium without adversely affecting cache performance. In step 1021, a medium controller 105-mc associated with a shared input-output medium 105 detects an indication from a cache agent 101-ca associated with a cache memory 101, that a second packet 101-tran-second-P associated with a cache related memory transactions 101-tran is pending. In step 1022, as a result of the indication, the medium controller 105-mc delays transmission of a first packet 106-tran-first-P associated with a general communication transaction 106-tran via the shared input-output medium 105. In step 1023, the medium controller 105-mc transmits instead the second packet 101-tran-second-P via the shared input-output medium 105, thereby preserving cache performance in conjunction with the cache related memory transactions 101-tran.

In a first alternative embodiment to the method just described, the cache performance is associated with a performance parameter selected from a group consisting of: (i) latency, and (ii) bandwidth.

In a second alternative embodiment to the method just described for mixing cache related memory transactions together with general communication transactions over a shared input-output medium without adversely affecting cache performance, further the general communication transactions 106-tran are packet-based transactions 106-tran-P performed via the medium controller 105-mc in conjunction with the shared input-output medium 105. Also, the cache performance is associated with latency; and said latency is lower than a time required to transmit a shortest packet belonging to said packet-based transaction 106-tran-P.

FIG. 7A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache automatically an external memory element as a result of a random-access read cycle. A system 200 is configured to cache automatically an external memory element as a result of a random-access read cycle. In one particular embodiment, the system includes a first random-access memory (RAM) 220-R1, a first interface 221-i 1 configured to connect the system 200 with a compute element 200-c 1 using synchronous random access transactions 221-tr, and a second interface 221-i 2 configured to connect 221-connect the system 200 with an external memory 212.

FIG. 7B illustrates one embodiment of prolonged synchronous random-access read cycle. The system 200 is configured to prolong 221-tr-R-prolong a synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R from the time period between T1 and T2 to the time period between T1 to T3, the prolongation being the period between T2 and T3.

FIG. 7C illustrates one embodiment of a system with a random access memory that is fetching at least one data element from an external memory element, serving it to a compute element, and writing it to the random access memory. In one particular embodiment, the prolong 221-tr-R-prolong (FIG. 7B) is initiated by the first computer element 200-c 1 when the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R (FIG. 7B) is detected to be addressed to a first memory location 212-L1 of the external memory element 212 currently not cached by the first random-access memory 220-R1 (FIG. 7A). The system 200 is further configured to fetch 212-L1-fetch, via the second interface 221-i 2 (FIG. 7A), from the external memory element 212, at least one data element 212-D1 associated with the first memory location 212-L1. The system is further configured to serve 212-D1-serve to the first compute element 200-c 1, as part of the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R (FIG. 7B) prolonged, via the first interface 221-i 1 (FIG. 7A), the at least one data element 212-D1 that was previously fetched, thereby concluding successfully the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R (FIG. 7B). The system is further configured to write 212-D1-write the at least one data element 212-D1 to the first random-access memory 220-R1, thereby caching automatically the first memory location 212-L1 for faster future access by the first compute element 200-c 1.

FIG. 7D illustrates one embodiment of a DIMM system configured to implement communication between an external memory element, a first RAM, and a first computer element. In one particular embodiment, the first compute element 200-c 1 is placed on a first motherboard 200-MB. Further, the system 200 is implemented on a first printed-circuit-board (PCB) having a form factor of a dual-in-line-memory-module (DIMM) 200-DIMM, such that the system 200 is connected to the first motherboard 200-MB like a dual-in-line-memory-module, and such that the first compute element 200-c 1 perceives the system 200 as essentially a dual-in-line-memory-module. Further, the external memory element 212 is not placed on said first motherboard 200-MB. Further, the second interface 221-i 2 (FIG. 7A) is an electrical-optical interface 221-i 2-EO, connected to the external memory element 212 via an optical fiber 207-fiber, together operative to facilitate said connection 221-connect. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7D, first RAM 220-R1 and first interface 221-i 1 are structured and function as described in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7E illustrates one embodiment of a system controller configured to fetch additional data elements from additional memory locations of an external memory, and write such data elements to RAM memory. The system 200 includes a system controller 200-cont that is configured to fetch 212-L1-fetch-add additional data elements 212-Dn respectively from additional memory locations 212-Ln of the external memory element 212, wherein the additional memory locations 212-Ln are estimated, based at least in part on the first memory location 212-L1 (FIG. 7C), to be accessed in the future by the compute element 200-c 1 (FIG. 7A). The system controller 200-cont is further configured to write 212-Dn-write the additional data elements 212-Dn fetched to the first random-access memory 220-R1, thereby caching automatically the additional memory locations 212-Ln for faster future access by the first compute element 200-c 1 (FIG. 7A).

FIG. 7F illustrates one embodiment of a process by which a system 200 (FIG. 7E) writing of additional data elements to RAM memory occurs concurrently with additional synchronous random-access write cycles. In FIG. 7E, the writing 212-Dn-write (FIG. 7E) of the additional data elements 212-Dn (FIG. 7E) is operated essentially concurrently with additional 221-tr-R-W-add synchronous random-access read cycles or synchronous random-access write cycles made by said first compute element 200-c 1 (FIG. 7A) in conjunction with the first interface 221-i 1 (FIG. 7A) and the first random-access memory 220-R1 (FIG. 7E).

FIG. 8A illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules. In one particular embodiment, the system 300 includes first 300-c 1 and second 300-cn compute elements associated respectively with first 320-m 1 and second 320-mn memory modules, each of said compute elements configured to communicate with its respective memory module using synchronous random access transactions 321-tr. The system includes further a shared memory pool 312 connected with the first and second memory modules via first 331-DL1 and second 331-DLn data links, respectively.

FIG. 8B illustrates one embodiment of system 300 (FIG. 8A) configured to fetch, by a first compute element, sets of data from a shared memory pool. FIG. 8B illustrates an additional embodiment of the system 300 (FIG. 8A) illustrated in FIG. 8A, wherein the system 300 is (FIG. 8A) configured to use the first 320-m 1 and second 320-mn (FIG. 8A) memory modules as a cache to the shared memory pool 312, such that sets of data 312-D1 cached on the first 320-m 1 or second 320-mn (FIG. 8A) memory modules are read 321-tr-R by the respective compute element 300-c 1 or 300-cn (FIG. 8A) using the synchronous random access transactions 321-tr (FIG. 8A), and other sets of data 312-D2 that are not cached on said first or second memory module are fetched 331-DL1-fetch from the shared memory pool 312 into the first 320-m 1 or second 320-mn (FIG. 8A) memory modules upon demand from the respective compute elements 300-c 1 and 300-cn (FIG. 8A).

FIG. 8C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which a first compute element is placed on a first motherboard, a first DIMM module is connected to the first motherboard via a first DIMM slot, and first data link is comprised of a first optical fiber. In one particular embodiment of the system 300 (FIG. 8A), the first 320-m 1 memory module is a first dual-in-line-memory-module (DIMM) 300-DIMM-1. Further, the first compute element 300-c 1 is placed on a first motherboard 300-MB-1, the first dual-in-line-memory-module 300-DIMM-1 is connected to the first motherboard 300-MB-1 via a first dual-in-line-memory-module slot 300-DIMM-1-slot, and the first data link 331-DL1 (FIG. 8A) includes a first optical fiber 307-fiber-1 with a connection to a shared memory pool 312.

FIG. 8D illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which a second compute element is placed on a second motherboard, a second DIMM module is connected to the second motherboard via a second DIMM slot, and a second data link is comprised of a second optical fiber. FIG. 8D illustrates one particular embodiment of the system 300 (FIG. 8A) illustrated in FIG. 8C, in which further the second 320-mn memory module is a second dual-in-line-memory-module 300-DIMM-n, the second compute element 300-cn is placed on a second motherboard 300-MB-n, the second dual-in-line-memory-module 300-DIMM-n is connected to the second motherboard 300-MB-n via a second dual-in-line-memory-module slot 300-DIMM-n-slot, and the second data link 331-DLn (FIG. 8A) includes a second optical fiber 307-fiber-n connected to a shared memory pool 312.

FIG. 8E illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which each of the memory modules and the shared memory pool resides in a different server. FIG. 8E illustrates one particular embodiment of the system 300 (FIG. 8A) illustrated in FIG. 8D, in which further the first 300-MB-1 and second 300-MB-n motherboards are placed in a first 300-S-1 and a second 300-S-n server, respectively, and the shared memory pool 312 is placed in a third server 300-server, in which there is a first data link 331-DL1 between the first server 300-S1 and the third server 300-server and in which there is a second data link 331-DLn between the second server 300-S-n and the third server 300-server. The structure presented in FIG. 8E thereby facilitates distributed operation and memory disaggregation.

FIG. 8F illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which a first memory module includes a first RAM operative to cache sets of data, a first interface is configured to communicate with a first compute element, and a second interface is configured to transact with the shared memory pool. In the system 300 (FIG. 8A) the first memory module 320-m 1 includes a first random-access memory 320-R1 configured to cache the sets of data 312-D1 (FIG. 8B), a first interface 321-i 1 configured to communicate with the first compute element 300-c 1 using the synchronous random access transactions 321-tr, and a second interface 321-i 2 configured to transact with the external shared memory pool 312 via the first data link 331-DL1.

FIG. 8G illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, in which sets of data are arranged in a page format. In this system 300 (FIG. 8A), the sets of data 312-D1 (FIG. 8B) and other sets of data 312-D2 (FIG. 8B) are arranged in a page format 312-P1, 312-Pn respectively. Also, the system 300 (FIG. 8A) is further configured to conclude that at least some of said other sets of data 312-D2 (FIG. 8B) are currently not cached on the first memory module 320-m 1, and consequently to issue, in said first compute element 300-c 1, a page fault condition. The system 300 (FIG. 8A) consequently fetches 331-DL1-fetch at least one page 312-Pn from the shared memory pool 312, wherein the at least one page 312-Pn contains the at least some of the other sets of data 312-D2 (FIG. 8B). The system (FIG. 8A) further caches the at least one page 312-Pn in the first memory module 320-m 1 for further use.

FIG. 8H illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, wherein a memory module includes a first RAM comprising a first bank of RAM and a second bank of RAM. FIG. 8H and FIG. 8I together illustrate one embodiment of a system 300 (FIG. 8A) that facilitates operation of the first random-access memory 320-R1 similar to a dual-ported random-access memory. In FIG. 8H, the first memory module 320-m 1 includes a first random-access memory 320-R1 which itself includes first 320-D1 and second 320-D2 banks of dynamic-random-access-memory (DRAM). Concurrency is facilitated by the reading 321-tr-R (FIG. 8H) made from the first bank 320-D1 (FIG. 8H) by the first compute element while at the same time fetching 331-DL1-fetch (FIG. 8H) is done with the second bank 320-D2 (FIG. 8H).

FIG. 8I illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to cache a shared memory pool using at least two memory modules, wherein a memory module includes a first RAM comprising a first bank of RAM and a second bank of RAM. In FIG. 8I, the first memory module 320-m 1 includes a first random-access memory 320-R1 which itself includes first 320-D1 and second 320-D2 banks of dynamic-random-access-memory (DRAM). Concurrency is facilitated by the reading 321-tr-R (FIG. 8I) made from the second bank 320-D2 (FIG. 8I) by the first compute element while at the same time fetching 331-DL1-fetch (FIG. 8I) is done with the first bank 320-D1 (FIG. 8I). The reading and fetching in FIG. 8I are implemented alternately with the reading and fetching in FIG. 8H, thereby facilitating operation of the first random-access memory 320-R1 as a dual-ported random-access memory.

FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a system 400 configured to propagate data among a plurality of computer elements via a shared memory pool. In one particular embodiment, the system 400 includes a plurality of compute elements 400-c 1, 400-cn associated respectively with a plurality of memory modules 420-m 1, 420-mn, each compute element configured to exchange 409-ex 1 data 412-D1 with the respective memory module using synchronous random access memory transactions 421-tr. The system 400 includes further a shared memory pool 412 connected with the plurality of memory modules 420-m 1, 420-mn via a plurality of data links 431-DL1, 431-DLn respectively. In some embodiments, the system 400 is configured to use the plurality of data links 431-DL1, 431-DLn to further exchange 409-ex 2 the data 412-D1 between the plurality of memory modules 420-m 1, 420-mn and the shared memory pool 412, such that at least some of the data 412-D1 propagates from one 400-c 1 of the plurality of compute elements to the shared memory pool 412, and from the shared memory pool 412 to another one 400-cn of the plurality of compute elements.

FIG. 10A illustrates one embodiment of a system 500 configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network 550. In one particular embodiment, the system 500 includes a first plurality of data interfaces 529-1, 529-2, 529-n configured to connect respectively to a plurality of compute elements 500-c 1, 500-c 2, 500-cn with the switching network 550. The system further includes a shared memory pool 512, which itself includes a plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mn, connected to the switching network 550 via a second plurality of data interfaces 523-1, 523-2, 523-k, respectively.

FIG. 10B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network. In one particular embodiment, the system 500 includes a switching network 550 operative to transport concurrently sets of data 512-D1, 512-D2, 512-Dn associated with a plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR. The system further includes a first plurality of data interfaces 529-1, 529-2, 529-n configured to connect respectively a plurality of compute elements 500-c 1, 500-c 2, 500-cn with the switching network 500. The system further includes a shared memory pool 512, which itself includes a plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, connected to the switching network 550 via a second plurality of data interfaces 523-1, 523-2, 523-k respectively, where the shared memory pool 512 is configured to store or serve the sets of data 512-D1, 512-D2, 512-Dn concurrently by utilising the plurality of memory modules concurrently, thereby facilitating a parallel memory access by the plurality of compute elements 500-c 1, 500-c 2, 500-cn in conjunction with the plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR via the switching network 550.

FIG. 10C illustrates one embodiment of a system 500 configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network and a plurality of optical fiber data interfaces. In one particular embodiment, the system 500 includes a plurality of servers 500-S-1, 500-S-2, 500-S-n housing respectively said plurality of compute elements 500-c 1 (FIG. 10B), 500-c 2 (FIG. 10B), 500-cn (FIG. 10B), and a memory-server 500-S-memory housing said switching network 550 and a second plurality of data interfaces 523-1, 523-2, 523-k, which are connected to, respectively, memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, and 540-mk The system 500 further includes a first plurality of data interfaces 529-1 (FIG. 10B), 529-2 (FIG. 10B), 529-n (FIG. 10B), which themselves include, respectively, a plurality of optical fibers 507-fiber-1, 507-fiber-2, 507-fiber-n configured to transport a plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR (FIG. 10B), 512-D2-TR (FIG. 10B), 512-Dn-TR (FIG. 10B) between the plurality of servers 500-S-1, 500-S-2, 500-S-n and the memory-server 500-S-memory.

FIG. 10D illustrates one embodiment of a system 500 configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool, including one configuration of a switching network 550, and a second plurality of servers housing a second plurality of memory modules. In one particular embodiment, the system 500 includes a second plurality of servers 540-S-1, 540-S-2, 540-S-k housing respectively a plurality of memory modules 540-m 1 (FIG. 10C), 540-m 2 (FIG. 10C), 540-mk (FIG. 10C). In some particular embodiments, a second plurality of data interfaces 523-1 (FIG. 10C), 523-2 (FIG. 10C), 523-k (FIG. 10C) comprises respectively a plurality of optical fibers 517-fiber-1, 517-fiber-2, 517-fiber-k configured to transport a plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR (FIG. 10B), 512-D2-TR (FIG. 10B), 512-Dn-TR (FIG. 10B) between the second plurality of servers 540-S-1, 540-S-2, 540-S-k and the switching network 550.

One embodiment is a system 200 configured to cache automatically an external memory element 212 as a result of a random-access read cycle 221-tr-R. In one embodiment, the system includes a first random-access memory (RAM) 220-R1, a first interface 221-i 1 configured to connect the system 200 with a first compute element 200-c 1 using synchronous random access transactions 221-tr, and a second interface 221-i 2 configured to connect 221-connect the system 200 with an external memory element 212. In some embodiments the system is configured to prolong 221-tr-prolong a synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R initiated by the first compute element 200-c 1 in conjunction with the first interface 221-i 1 when the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R is detected to be addressed to a first memory location 221-L1 of the external memory element 212 currently not cached by the first random-access memory 220-R-1, fetch 212-L1-fetch via the second interface 221-i 2 from the external memory element 212 at least one data element 212-D1 associated with the first memory location 212-L1, serve 212-D1-serve to the first compute element 200-c 1 as part of said synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R prolonged via the first interface 221-i 1 the at least one data element 212-D1 that was previously fetched thereby concluding successfully said synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R, and optionally write 212-D1-write the at least one data element 212-D1 to the first random-access memory 220-R1 thereby caching automatically the first memory location 212-L1 for faster future access by the first compute element 200-c 1.

In one alternative embodiment to the system 200 just described to cache automatically an external memory element 212, further the first compute element is placed on a first motherboard 200-MB, the system 200 is implemented on a first printed-circuit-board (PCB) having a form factor of a dual-in-line-memory-module (DIMM) 200-DIMM such that the system 200 is connected to the first motherboard 200-MB like a dual-in-line-memory-module and such that said first compute element 200-c 1 perceives the system 200 as essentially a dual-in-line-memory-module, the external memory element 212 is not placed on the first motherboard 200-MB, and the second interface 221-i 2 is an electrical-optical interface 221-i 2-EO connected to said external memory element 212 via an optical fiber 207-fiber together operative to facilitate the connection 221-connect.

In a second alternative embodiment to the system 200 described above to cache automatically an external memory element 212, further the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R is performed using a signal configuration selected from a group consisting of (i) single-data-rate (SDR), (ii) double-data-rate (DDR), and (iii) quad-data-rate (QDR).

In a third alternative embodiment to the system 200 described above to cache automatically an external memory element 212, further the prolonging 221-tr-R-prolong of the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R is done in order to allow enough time for the system 200 to perform the fetch 212-L1-fetch, and further the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R is allowed to conclude at such time that said serving 212-D1-serve is possible, thereby ending said prolonging 221-tr-R-prolong.

In one possible variation of the third alternative embodiment just described, further the synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R is performed over a double-data-rate (DDR) bus configuration, and the prolonging 221-tr-R-prolong is done using a procedure selected from a group consisting of: (i) manipulating a data strobe signal belonging to said DDR bus configuration, (ii) manipulating an error signal belonging to said DDR bus configuration, (iii) reducing dynamically a clock frame of the DDR bus configuration, (iv) adjusting dynamically a latency configuration associated with said DDR bus configuration, and (v) any general procedure operative to affect timing of said synchronous random-access read cycle 221-tr-R.

In a fourth alternative embodiment to the system 200 described above to cache automatically an external memory element 212, further a system controller 200-cont is included and configured to fetch 212-Li-fetch-add additional data elements 212-Dn respectively from additional memory locations 212-Ln of the external memory element 212 where the additional memory locations are estimated based at least in part on the first memory location 212-L1 and the memory locations are to be accessed in the future by said compute element 200-c 1, and write 212-Dn-write the additional data elements 212-Dn fetched to the first random-access memory 220-R1 thereby caching automatically the additional memory locations 212-Ln for faster future access by the first compute element.

In one possible variation of the fourth alternative embodiment just described, further the writing 212-Dn-write of the additional data elements 212-Dn is operated concurrently with additional 221-tr-R-W-add synchronous random-access read cycles or synchronous random-access write cycles made by the first compute element 200-c 1 in conjunction with the first interface 221-i 1 and the first random-access memory 220-R1.

In one possible configuration of the possible variation just described, further the concurrent operation is made possible at least in part by the first random-access memory 220-R1 being a dual-ported random-access memory.

One embodiment is a system 300 configured to cache a shared memory pool 312 using at least two memory modules, including a first compute element 300-c 1 and a second computer element 300-cn which are associated with, respectively, a first memory module 320-m 1 and a second memory module 320-mn memory module, where each of the compute elements is configured to communicate with its respective memory module using synchronous random access transactions 321-tr. Also, a shared memory pool 312 connected with the first 320-m 1 and second 320-mn memory modules via a first data link 331-DL1 and a second data link 331-DLn, respectively. In some embodiments, the system 300 is configured to use the first 320-m 1 and second 320-mn memory modules as a cache to the shared memory pool 312, such that sets of data 312-D1 cached on the first 320-m 1 or second 320-mn memory modules are read 321-tr-R by the respective compute element using the synchronous random access transactions 321-tr, and other sets of data 312-D2 that are not cached on the first 320-m 1 or second 320-mn memory modules are fetched 331-DL1-fetch from the shared memory pool 312 into the first 320-m 1 or the second 320-mn memory module upon demand from the memory module's respective compute element.

In one alternative embodiment to the system 300 just described to cache a shared memory pool 312 using at least two memory modules, further the first 320-m 1 memory module is a first dual-in-line-memory-module (DIMM) 300-DIMM-1.

In one possible variation of the alternative embodiment just described, further the first compute element 300-c 1 is placed on a first motherboard 300-MB-1, the first dual-in-line-memory-module 300-DIMM-1 is connected to the first motherboard 300-MB-1 via a first dual-in-line-memory-module slot 300-DIMM-1-slot, and the first data link 331-DL1 includes a first optical fiber 307-fiber-1.

In one possible configuration of the possible variation just described, further, the second 320-mn memory module is a second dual-in-line-memory-module 300-DIMM-n, the second compute element 300-cn is placed on a second motherboard 300-MB-n, the second dual-in-line-memory-module 300-DIMM-n is connected to the second motherboard 300-MB-n via a second dual-in-line-memory-module slot 300-DIMM-n-slot, the second data link 331-DLn includes a second optical fiber 307-fiber-n, the first 300-MB-1 and second 300-MB-n motherboard are placed in a first 300-S-1 and a second 300-S-n server, respectively, and the shared memory pool is placed in a third server 300-server thereby facilitating distributed operation and memory disaggregation.

In a second alternative embodiment to the system 300 described above to cache a shared memory pool 312 using at least two memory modules, further the first memory module 320-m 1 includes a first random-access memory 320-R1 operative to cache the sets of data 312-D1, a first interface 321-i 1 configured to communicate with the first compute element 300-c 1 using the synchronous random access transactions 321-tr, and a second interface 321-i 2 configured to transact with the external shared memory pool 312 via the first data link 331-DL1.

In a third alternative embodiment to the system 300 described above to cache a shared memory pool 312 using at least two memory modules, further the sets of data 312-D1 and other sets of data 312-D2 are arranged in a page format 312-P1 and 312-Pn, respectively. In some embodiments, the system 300 is further configured to conclude that at least some of the other sets of data 312-D2 are currently not cached on said first memory module 320-m 1, to issue in the first compute element 300-c 1 a page fault condition, to fetch 331-DL1-fetch by the first compute element 300-c 1 at least one page 312-Pn from said shared memory pool 312 where the at least one page 312-Pn contains at least some of the other sets of data 312-D2, and cache the at least one page 312-Pn in said first memory module 320-m 1 for further use.

In a fourth alternative embodiment to the system 300 described above to cache a shared memory pool 312 using at least two memory modules, further the first memory module 320-m 1 is configured to facilitate the reading 321-tr-R of the sets of data 312-D1 concurrently with the fetching 331-DL1-fetch of the other sets of data 312-D2, such that the fetching 331-DL1-fetch of the other sets of data 312-D2 does not reduce data throughput associated with the readings 321-tr-R.

In one possible variation of the fourth alternative embodiment just described, further, the first memory module 320-m 1 comprises a first random-access memory 320-R1 including a first 320-D1 and a second 320-D2 bank of dynamic-random-access-memory (DRAM). In some embodiments, the concurrency is facilitated by the reading 321-tr-R in FIG. 8H made from the first bank 320-D1 in FIG. 8H when the fetching 331-DL1-fetch in FIG. 8H is done with the second bank 320-D2 in FIG. 8H, and by the reading 321-tr-R FIG. 8I made from the second bank 320-D2 in FIG. 8I when the fetching 331-DL1-fetch in FIG. 8I is done with the first bank 320-D1 in FIG. 8I, effectively facilitating operation of the first random-access memory 320-R1 as a dual-ported random-access memory.

One embodiment is a system 400 configured to propagate data among a plurality of compute elements via a shared memory pool 412, including a plurality of compute elements 400-c 1, 400-cn associated with, respectively, a plurality of memory modules 420-m 1, 420-mn, where each compute element is configured to exchange 409-ex 1 data 412-D1 with its respective memory module using synchronous random access memory transactions 421-tr. In this embodiment, further a shared memory pool 412 is connected with the plurality of memory modules 420-m 1, 420-mn via a plurality of data links 431-DL1, 431-DLn, respectively. In some embodiments, the system 400 is configured to use the plurality of data links 431-DL1, 431-DLn to further exchange 409-ex 2 the data 412-D1 between the plurality of memory modules 420-m 1, 420-mn and the shared memory pool 412, such that at least some of the data 412-D1 propagates from one 400-c 1 of the plurality of compute elements to the shared memory pool 412 and from the shared memory pool 412 to another one 400-cn of the plurality of compute elements.

One embodiment is a system 500 configured to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool 512, including a switching network 550 operative to transport concurrently sets of data 512-D1, 512-D2, 512-Dn associated with a plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR. In this embodiment, further a first plurality of data interfaces 529-1, 529-2, 529-n configured to connect, respectively, a plurality of compute elements 500-c 1, 500-c 2, 500-cn with the switching network 500. In this embodiment, further a shared memory pool 512 including a plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, connected to the switching network 550 via a second plurality of data interfaces 523-1, 523-2, 523-k respectively, wherein the shared memory pool 512 is configured to store or serve the sets of data 512-D1, 512-D2, 512-Dn concurrently by utilizing the plurality of memory modules concurrently, thereby facilitating a parallel memory access by the plurality of compute elements 500-c 1, 500-c 2, 500-cn in conjunction with the plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR via the switching network.

One alternative embodiment to the system just described 500 to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool 512, further including a plurality of servers 500-S-1, 500-S-2, 500-S-n housing respectively the plurality of compute elements 500-c 1, 500-c 2, 500-cn, and a memory-server 500-S-memory housing the switching network 550 and the second plurality of data interfaces 523-1, 523-2, 523-k. In some embodiments, the first plurality of data interfaces 529-1, 529-2, 529-n includes respectively a plurality of optical fibers 507-fiber-1, 507-fiber-2, 507-fiber-n configured to transport the plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR between the plurality of servers 500-S-1, 500-S-2, 500-S-n and the memory-server 500-S-memory. In some embodiments, the at least one of the first plurality of data interfaces 529-1, 529-2, 529-n is a shared input-output medium. In some embodiments, at least one of the plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR is done in conjunction with at least one of the plurality of compute elements 500-c 1, 500-c 2, 500-cn using synchronous random access transactions.

In a second alternative embodiment to the system 500 described above to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool 512, further the first plurality of data interfaces 529-1, 529-2, 529-n include at least 8 (eight) data interfaces, the plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk include at least 8 (eight) memory modules, and the plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR has an aggregated bandwidth of at least 400 Giga-bits-per-second.

In a third alternative embodiment to the system 500 described above to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool 512, further each of the plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk is a dynamic-random-access-memory accessed by the respective one of the second plurality of data interfaces 523-1, 523-2, 523-k using synchronous random access memory transactions, and the latency achieved with each of the plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR is lower than 2 (two) microseconds.

In a fourth alternative embodiment to the system 500 described above to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool 512, further the switching network 550 is a switching network selected from a group consisting of: (i) a non-blocking switching network, (ii) a fat tree packet switching network, (iii) a cross-bar switching network, and (iv) an integrated-circuit (IC) configured to multiplex said sets of data 512-D1, 512-D2, 512-Dn in conjunction with said plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk thereby facilitating said transporting concurrently of said sets of data 512-D1, 512-D2, 512-Dn.

In a fifth alternative embodiment to the system 500 described above to allow a plurality of compute elements concurrent access to a shared memory pool 512, further including a second plurality of serves 540-S-1, 540-S-2, 540-S-k housing respectively the plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk In some embodiments, the second plurality of data interfaces 523-1, 523-2, 523-k includes respectively a plurality of optical fibers 517-fiber-1, 517-fiber-2, 517-fiber-k configured to transport the plurality of memory transactions 512-D1-TR, 512-D2-TR, 512-Dn-TR between the second plurality of servers 540-S-1, 540-S-2, 540-S-k and the switching network 550.

FIG. 11A illustrates one embodiment of a system 600 configured to use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys. The system 600 includes a cache memory 601, and a first compute element 601-c 1 associated with and in communicative contact with the cache memory 601. The first compute element 601-c 1 includes two or more keys, 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3, where each key is associated with a respective data value, 618-k 1 with 618-v 1, 618-k 2 with 618-v 2, and 618-k 3 with 618-v 3. The data values are stored in multiple servers. In FIG. 11A, 618-v 1 is stored in first server 618 a, 618-v 2 is stored in second server 618 b, and 618-v 3 is stored in third server 618 c. It will be understood, however, that two or more specific data values may be served in a single server, although the entire system 600 includes two or more servers. The servers as a whole are a server stack that is referenced herein as a distributed key-value-store (KVS) 621. The first compute element 600-c 1 and the distributed KVS 621 are in communicative contact through a switching network 650, which handles requests for data values from the first compute element 600-c 1 to the KVS 621, and which handles also data values sent from the KVS 621 to either the first compute element 600-c 1 or the cache memory 601. In some embodiments, the system 600 includes also a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 677, which receives data values from the switching network 650, and which may pass such data values directly to the cache memory 601 rather than to the first compute element 600-c 1, thereby temporarily freeing the first compute element 600-c 1 to perform work other than receiving and processing a data value. The temporary freeing of the first compute element 600-c 1 is one aspect of system 600 timing that facilitates a higher utilization rate for the first compute element 600-c 1. In some embodiments, the system 600 includes also a network-interface-card (NIC) 667, which is configured to associate the first compute element 600-c 1 and the cache memory 601 with the switching network 650. In some embodiments, the NIC 667 is further configured to block or delay any communication currently preventing the NIC 667 from immediately sending a request for data value from the first compute element 600-c 1 to the KVS 621, thereby preventing a situation in which the first compute element 600-c 1 must wait before sending such a request. This blocking or delaying by the NIC 667 facilitates efficient usage and a higher utilization rate of the first compute element 600-c 1. In FIG. 11A, the order of structural elements between cache memory 601 and first compute element 600-c 1 on the one hand and the KVS 621 on the other hand is DMA controller 677, then NIC 667, then switching network 650, but this is only one of many possible configurations, since any of the three elements 677, 667, or 650, may be either on the left, or in the middle, or on the right, and indeed in alternative embodiments, the DMA controller 677 and NIC 667 may be parallel, such that they are not in direct contact with one another but each one is in contact with the switching network 667 and with either the cache memory 601 or the first compute element 600-c 1 or with both the cache memory 601 and the first compute element 600-c 1.

In some embodiments of FIG. 11A, the KVS 621 is a shared memory pool 512 from FIG. 10B, which includes multiple memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, where each memory module is associated with a particular server. In FIG. 11A as shown, memory module 540-m 1 would be associated with first server 618 a, memory module 540-m 2 would be associated with second server 618 b, and memory module 540-mk would be associated with third server 618 c. However, many different configurations are possible, and a single server may include two or more memory modules, provided that the entire system includes a multiplicity of memory modules and a multiplicity of servers, and that all of the memory modules are included in at least two servers. In a configuration with memory modules, the data values are stored in the memory modules, for example data value 618-v 1 in memory module 540-m 1, data value 618-v 2 in memory module 540-m 2, and data value 618-v 3 in memory module 540-mk, but this is only one of multiple possible configurations, provided that all of the data values are stored in two or more memory modules that are located in two or more servers. In some embodiments, one or more of the multiple memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, are based on random-access-memory (RAM), which may be a dynamic RAM (DRAM) or a flash memory in two non limiting examples, and at least as far as read cycles are concerned, thereby facilitating the execution of data value requests from the first compute element 600-c 1. In some embodiments, a memory module can execute a data value request in a period between 200 and 2,500 nanoseconds.

FIG. 11B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to request and receive data values needed for data processing. FIG. 11B illustrates two transfers of information, one at the top and one at the bottom, although both transfers pass through the switching network 650. At the top, cache memory 601 receives 618-get 1 a first data value 618-v 1 which was sent by the first server 618 a to the switching network 650. In some embodiments, the first data value 618-v 1 is sent directly from the switching network to the cache memory 601, while in other embodiments the first data value 618-v 1 is sent from the switching network to a DMA controller 677 (or rather pulled by the DMA controller) and then to the cache memory 601, while in other embodiments the first data value 618-v 1 is sent from the switching network 650 directly to the first compute element 600-c 1, and in other embodiments the first data value 618-v 1 is sent from the switching network 650 to a DMA controller 677 and then to the first compute element 600-c 1.

In FIG. 11B, in the bottom transfer of information, a first compute element 600-c 1 uses a key, here 618-k 2 to identify the server location of a needed data value, here second data value 618-v 2. The first compute element 600-c 1 then sends a request 600-req 2 to receive this data value 618-v 2, where such request 600-req 2 is sent to the switching network 650 and then to the server holding the data value 618-v 2, here second server 618 b.

FIG. 11C illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to streamline a process of retrieving a plurality of values from a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys. In FIG. 11C, the system 600 is configured to perform four general tasks:

-   -   to use keys 618-k 2, 618-k 3, to derive 600-c 1-der-s2, 600-c         1-der-s3 identities of servers holding needed data values,     -   to send requests 600-req 2, 600-req 3 for needed data values to         the specific servers in the KVS 621 holding the needed data         values,     -   to receive the needed data values 618-get 1, 618-get 2 from the         servers via the switching network 650 or the DMA controller 677         or the cache memory 601, and     -   to process 600-c 1-pro-v1, 600-c 1-pro-v2 the received data         values as required.         In some embodiments, the first compute element 600-c 1 is         dedicated to the four general tasks described immediately above.         Dedications to these tasks can enhance the utilisation rate of         the first compute element 600-c 1, and thereby increase the         relative efficiency of its usage.

In the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 11C, time flows from the top to the bottom, actions of the first compute element 600-c 1 are illustrated on the left, actions of the second server 618 b are illustrated on the right, and interactions between the first compute element 600-c 1 and the second server 618 b are illustrated by lines pointing between these two structures in which information transfers are via the switched network 650. The server location (e.g. the address of the server) associated with a second needed data value is derived 600-c 1-der-s2 by the first compute element 600-c 1, after which the first compute element 600-c 1 receives 618-get 1 a first needed data value that was previously requested, and the first compute element 600-c 1 sends a new request for a second needed data value 600-req 2 to the second server 618 b, after which the first compute element 600-c 1 processes the first data value 600-c 1-pro-v1, and the first compute element derives the server location of a third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3, after which the first compute element 600-c 1 receives 618-get 2 the second needed data value, and the first compute element sends a future request 600-req 3 for the third needed data value, after which the first compute element processes the second needed data value 60-c 1-pro-v2.

After the second server 618 b receives from the switching network 650 the new request for a second needed data value 600-req 2, the second server 618 b executes this request 600-req 2-exe by locating, optionally using the second key which is included in the new request 600-req 2, the needed data value within the server 618 b and preparing to send it to the switching network 650. The period of time from which the first compute element 600-c 1 sends a new request for a second needed data value 600-req 2 until that request is received by the second server 618 b is a request propagation time 600-req 2-prop. During the propagation period 600-req 2-prop, the period during which the second server 618 b executes the data request 600-req 2-exe, and the time period 618-get 2 during which the second needed data value is transferred from the second server 618 b to the first compute element 600-c 1, the first compute element 600-c 1 processes the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1 and, in a first period 699, derives the server location of the third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3. This interleaving of activity between the various structural elements of the system 600 increases the utilization rate of the first compute element 600-c 1 and thereby enhances the efficient usage of the first compute element 600-c 1.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11C, processing of the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1 occurs before the derivation of server location for the third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3. This is only one of multiple embodiments. In some alternative embodiments, the derivation of server location for the third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3 occurs before the processing of the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1. In other alternative embodiments, the processing of the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1 occurs in parallel with the derivation of the server location for the third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3. All of these embodiments are possible, because in all of them the first compute element 600-c 1 continues to be utilized, which means that the first compute element's 600-c 1 utilization rate is relatively high, and therefore its usage is relatively efficient.

FIG. 11D illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to minimize or at least reduce the duration of time periods between general tasks executed by a first compute element. In some embodiments, a first compute element 600-c 1 is dedicated to the four general tasks described with respect to FIG. 11C above. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11D, a first compute element 600-c 1 is operating over time. The first compute element 600-c 1 receives 618-get 1 a first needed data value. There is a second period 698 after receipt 618-get 1 of the first needed data value but before the first compute element 600-c 1-prov-v1 processes that first needed data value. There is then a third period 697 after the first compute element 600-c 1 has processed the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1 but before the first compute element 600-c 1 derives the server location of a third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3. To increase system efficiency, it would be desirable to minimize, or at least to reduce the duration, of either or both of the second period 698 and the third period 697. The implementation of the four general tasks by the first compute element 600-c 1, as presented and explained in reference to FIG. 11C, will minimize or at least reduce the duration of either or both of the second period 698 and the third period 697, and in this way increase the utilization rate of the first compute element 600-c 1 and hence the relative efficiency in the usage of the first compute element 600-c 1. In some alternative embodiments, the first compute element 600-c 1 derives the server location of a third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3 before it processes the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1, in which case the second period 698 is between 618-get 1 and 600-c 1-der-s3 and the third period 697 is immediately after 600-c 1-pro-v1.

FIG. 11E illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to increase the utilization rate of a first compute element. In some embodiments, a first compute element 600-c 1 is dedicated to the four general tasks described with respect to FIG. 11C above. In the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11E, a first compute element 600-c 1 is operating over time. After sending a new request for a second needed data value 600-req 2, the first compute element 600-c 1 processes the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1 and derives the server location of a third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3, either in the order shown in FIG. 11E, or by deriving the third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3 prior to processing the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1, or by performing both operations in a parallel manner. The duration of time during which the first compute element 600-c 1 both processes the first needed data value 600-c 1-pro-v1 and derives the server location of the third needed data value 600-c 1-der-s3, in whatever chronological order, is period 696. In one embodiment, as a result of one or more of the dedication of the first compute element 600-c 1 to the four general tasks, and/or the simultaneous operation of the first compute element 600-c 1 and the second server 618 b as illustrated and described in FIG. 11C, and/or of the operation of the cache memory in receiving some of the data values as illustrated and described in FIG. 11A, the first compute element 600-c 1 consumes at least 50 (fifty) percent of the time during period 696 performing the two tasks 600-c 1-pro-v1 and 600-c 1-der-s3. This is a relatively high computational duty-cycle, and it allows the first compute element 600-c 1 to process a plurality of keys, 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3 from FIG. 11A, and a plurality of values, 618-v 1, 618-v 2, 618-v 3, from FIG. 11A, at an increased and relatively high rate, thus enhancing the relative efficiency of the first compute element 600-c 1.

FIG. 11F illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to achieve a relatively high computational duty-cycle by at least temporarily blocking or redirecting the execution of certain processes. In FIG. 11F, there is a central-processing-unit (CPU) 600-CPU that includes at least a cache memory 601, a first compute element 600-c 1, and a second compute element 600-c 2. The first compute element 600-c 1 includes a plurality of keys, 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3, each of which is associated with a corresponding data value stored in a server (such data values and servers not shown in FIG. 11F). The first compute element 600-c 1 executes the general tasks illustrated and described in FIG. 11C. The second compute element 600-c 2 executes certain processes that are unrelated 600-pr to the general tasks executed by the first compute element 600-c 1. The system includes also an operating system 600-OS configured to control and manage the first 600-c 1 and second 600-c 2 compute elements. The operating system 600-OS is further configured to manage the general tasks executed by the first compute element 600-c 1 and the unrelated processes 600-pr that are executed by the second compute element 600-c 2. The operating system 600-OS is further configured to help achieve dedication of the first compute element 600-c 1 to the general tasks by blocking the unrelated processes 600-pr from running on the first compute element 600-c 1, or by causing the unrelated processes 600-pr to run on the second compute element 600-c 2, or both blocking or directing to the second compute element 600-c 2 depending on the specific process, or on the time constraints, or upon the system characteristics at a particular point in time.

In one embodiment, at least part of cache memory 601 is dedicated for usage by only the first compute element 600-c 1 in conjunction with execution of the general tasks illustrated and described in FIG. 11C, thus ensuring performance and timing in accordance with some embodiments.

It will be understood that the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11F is only one of multiple possible embodiments. In some alternative embodiments, there is only a single compute element, but some of its sub-structures are dedicated to the general tasks illustrated and described in FIG. 11C, whereas other of its sub-structures executed unrelated processes. In some alternative embodiments, there are two compute elements, in which some sub-structures of a first compute element 600-c 1 are dedicated to general tasks while others execute unrelated tasks, and similarly some sub-structures of a second compute element 600-c 2 are dedicated to general tasks while others execute unrelated tasks. In some alternative embodiments, different sub-structures within a compute element are either dedicated to general tasks or execute unrelated processes, but the status of a particular sub-structure will change over time depending on system characteristics, processing demands, and other factors, provided that every instant of time there are some sub-structures that perform only general tasks while other sub-structures execute only unrelated processes.

One embodiment is a system 600 operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, including a first compute element 600-c 1 associated with a first cache memory 601, and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) 621 including a plurality of servers 618 a, 618 b, 618 c configured to store a plurality of values 618-v 1, 618-v 2, 618-v 3 associated with a plurality of keys 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3, in which the plurality of servers is communicatively connected with said first cache memory 601 via a switching network 650. Further, the system is configured to send, from the first compute element 600-c 1, to a second 618 b of the plurality of servers identified 600-c 1-der-s2 using a second 618-k 2 plurality of keys, via said switching network 650, a new request 600-req 2 to receive a second 618-v 2 of the plurality of values associated with the second key 618-k 2. Further, the system is configured to receive 618-get 1, via said switching network 650, from a first 618 a of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory 601, a first 618-v 1 of said plurality of values previously requested. Further, after completion of the operations just described, the system is further configured to process 600-c 1-pro-v1 in the first compute element 600-c 1, in conjunction with the first cache memory 601, the first value 618-v 1 received, simultaneously with the second server 618 b and switching network 650 handling the new request 600-req 2. The system is further configured to derive 600-c 1-der-s3, in the first compute element 600-c 1, from a third 618-k 3 plurality of keys, during a first period 699 prior to receiving 618-get 2 and processing 600-c 1-pro-v2 the second value 618-v 2, an identity of a third 618 c of the plurality of servers into which to send a future request 600-req 3 for a third 618-v 3 of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage.

In one alternative embodiment to the system just described to efficiently use a compute element, the handling includes (i) propagation 600-req 2-prop of the new request 600-req 2 via the switching network 650, and (ii) executing 600-req 2-exe the new request 600-req 2 by the second server 618 b.

In one possible configuration of the alternative embodiment just described, (i) the propagation 600-req 2-prop takes between 150 to 2,000 nanoseconds, (ii) the executing 600-req 2-exe of the new request 600-req 2 takes between 200 and 2,500 nanoseconds, and (iii) the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1 takes between 500 and 5,000 nanoseconds. In this way, the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1 may extends over a period that is similar in magnitude to the handling, thereby making said simultaneity possibly more critical for achieving the efficient usage. In one possible embodiment of the possible configuration described herein, the distributed key-value-store 621 is a shared memory pool 512 that includes a plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, wherein each of the plurality of servers 618 a, 618 b, 618 c is associated with at least one of said plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, and wherein the plurality of values 618-v 1, 618-v 2, 618-v 3 are stored in the plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk.

In possible variation of the possible configuration described above, the plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk are based on random-access-memory, thereby facilitating the executing 600-req 2-exe of the new request 600-req 2 taking between 200 and 2,500 nanoseconds. This possible variation may be implemented whether or not the distributed key-value-store 621 is a shared memory pool 512.

In a second alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, the system 600 is further configured to dedicate the first compute element 600-c 1 for: (i) sending any one of the requests 600-req 2, 600-req 3 to receive respectively any one of the plurality of values 618-v 2, 618-v 3, (ii) processing 600-c 1-pro-v1, 600-c 1-pro-v2 any one of the plurality of values 618-v 1, 618-v 2, and (iii) deriving 600-c 1-der-s2, 600-c 1-der-s3 identities of any one of the plurality of servers 618 b, 618 c using respectively any one of the plurality of keys 618-k 2, 618-k 3. In this way, there are minimized at least: (i) a second period 698 between the receiving 618-get 1 and the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1, and (ii) a third period 697 between the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1 and the deriving 600-c 1-der-s3. This minimization of (i) and (ii) facilitates the efficient usage of a compute element 600-c 1.

In a first variation to the second alternative embodiment described above, The system further includes a second compute element 600-c 2, together with the first compute element 600-c 1 belonging to a first central-processing-unit (CPU) 600-CPU, and an operating-system (OS) 600-OS configured to control and manage the first 600-c 1 and second 600-c 2 compute element, wherein the operating-system 600-OS is further configured to manage a plurality of processes comprising: (i) said sending 600-req 2, receiving 618-get 1, processing 600-c 1-pro-v1, and deriving 600-c 1-der-s3, and (ii) other unrelated processes 600-pr. Also, the operating-system 600-OS is further configured to achieve the dedication by blocking the other unrelated processes 600-pr from running on said first compute element 600-c 1, and by causing the other unrelated processes 600-pr to run on the second compute element 600-c 2.

In a second variation to the second alternative embodiment described above, as a result of the dedication, the simultaneity, and the first cache memory 601, the derivation 600-c 1-der-s3 and the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1 together account for at least 50 (fifty) per-cent of time spent by the first compute element 600-c 1 over a period 696 extending from a beginning of said sending 600-req 2 to an end of said deriving 600-c 1-der-s3. This utilisation rate thereby achieves a high computational duty-cycle, which thereby allows the first compute element 600-c 1 to process the plurality of keys 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3 and values 618-v 1, 618-v 2, 618-v 3 at an increased rate.

In a first configuration to the second variation to the second alternative embodiment, described above, further the period 696 extending from the beginning of the sending to the end of the deriving, is less than 10 (ten) microseconds.

In a second configuration to the second variation to the second alternative embodiment, described above, further the increased rate facilitates a sustained transaction rate of at least 100,000 (one hundred thousand) of the plurality of keys and values per second.

In a third alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, further the derivation is done by applying on the third key 618-k 3 a technique selected from a group consisting of: (i) hashing, (ii) table-based mapping, and (iii) any mapping technique either analytical or using look-up tables.

In a fourth alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, further the first compute element 600-c 1 and the first cache memory 601 belong to a first central-processing-unit (CPU) 600-CPU, such that the first compute element 600-c 1 has a high bandwidth access to the first cache memory 601, thereby allowing the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1 to conclude in less than 5 (five) microseconds.

In one possible configuration of the fourth alternative embodiment just described, the high bandwidth is more than 100 (one hundred) Giga-bits-per-second.

In a fifth alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, the system further comprises a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 677 configured to receive 618-get 1 the first value 618-v 1 via the switching network 650 directly into the first cache memory 601.

In one a variation of the fifth alternative embodiment just described, further the direct-memory-access controller 677 frees the first compute element 600-c 1 to perform the identification 600-c 1-der-s2 of the second server 618 b simultaneously with the receiving 618-get 1 of the first value 618-v 1. In this way, the efficient usage is facilitated.

In a sixth alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, the system 600 is further configured to send to the third 618 c of the plurality of servers identified, via said switching network 650, the future request 600-req 3 to receive the third value 618-v 3, and to receive 618-get 2, via the switching network 650, from the second server 618 b, into the first cache memory 601, the second value 618-v 2. The system is also configured, after completion of the send and receive operations just described, to process 600-c 1-pro-v2 the second value 618-v 2 received, simultaneously with the third server 618 c and switching network 650 handling of the future request 600-req 3.

In a seventh alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, system 600 further comprises a network-interface-card (NIC) 667 configured to associate the first compute element 600-c 1 and the first cache memory 601 to the said switching network 650. Also, the network-interface-card 667 is further configured to block or delay any communication currently preventing the network-interface-card 667 from immediately performing the sending 600-req 2, thereby preventing the first compute element 600-c 1 from waiting before performing said sending, thereby facilitating the efficient usage of the first compute element 600-c 1.

In an eighth alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, further the deriving 600-c 1-der-s3 is done simultaneously with the second server 618 b and the switching network 650 handling of the new request 600-req 2.

In a ninth alternative embodiment to the system described above to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, the system 600 further comprises a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 677 configured to receive 618-get 2 the second value 618-v 2 via the switching network 650 directly into the first cache memory 601, wherein the direct-memory-access controller 677 frees the first compute element 600-c 1 to perform the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1 simultaneously with the receiving 618-get 2 of the second value 618-v 2. The operation described in this ninth alternative embodiment thereby facilitates efficient usage of the first compute element 600-c 1.

In the various system embodiment described above, the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1 is depicted as occurring before the deriving 600-c 1-der-s3. However, this particular order of events is not required. In various alternative embodiments, the deriving 600-c 1-der-s3 occurs before the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1. Also, in different alternative embodiments, the deriving 600-c 1-der-s3 occurs in parallel with the processing 600-c 1-pro-v1.

FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing and timing, relatively efficiently, at least two key-value transactions in conjunction with a distributed key-value-store (KVS) 621. In step 1031: a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 677, starts a first process of receiving 618-get 1 via a switching network 650, from a first 618 a of a plurality of servers 618 a, 618 b, 618 c directly into a first cache memory 601 associated with a first compute element 600-c 1, a first 618-v 1 of a plurality of values 618-v 1, 618-v 2, 618-v 3 previously requested and associated with a first 618-k 1 of a plurality of keys 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3. In step 1032: a first compute element 600-c 1 derives 600-c 1-der-s2 from a second 618-k 2 of the plurality of keys, simultaneously with at least one part of the first process, an identity of a second 618 b of the plurality of servers into which to send a new request 600-req 2 for a second 618-v 2 of said plurality of values. In step 1033: the first compute element 600-c 1 sends, via the switching network 650, to the second server 618 b identified, the new request 600-req 2. In step 1034: the direct-memory-access controller 677 finishes the first process of receiving 618-get 1 the requested data element. In step 1035: the first compute element 600-c 1 processes 600-c 1-pro-v1 the first value 618-v 1 received, simultaneously with the second server 618 b and the switching network 650 handling the new request 600-req 2.

In a first alternative embodiment to the method just described, further the first compute element 600-c 1 derives 600-c 1-der-s3 from a third of the plurality of keys 618-k 3, during a first period 699 prior to receiving 618-get 2 and processing 600-c 1-pro-v2 the second value 618-v 2, an identity of a third 618 c of the plurality of servers into which to send a future request 600-req 3 for a third 618-v 3 of the plurality values.

FIG. 13A illustrates one embodiment of a system 680 configured to interleave high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran over a shared input-output medium 685. The system 680 includes a plurality of values 618-v 1, 618-v 2, 618-v 3, distributed over a plurality of servers 618 a, 618 b, 618 c, using a plurality of keys 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3. The system 680 includes a cache memory 601, and a first compute element 600-c 1 associated with and in communicative contact with the cache memory 601. The first compute element 600-c 1 includes two or more keys, 618-k 1, 618-k 2, 618-k 3, where each key is associated with a respective data value, 618-k 1 with 618-v 1, 618-k 2 with 618-v 2, and 618-k 3 with 618-v 3. The data values are stored in multiple servers. In FIG. 13A, 618-v 1 is stored in first server 618 a, 618-v 2 is stored in second server 618 b, and 618-v 3 is stored in third server 618 c. It will be understood, however, that two or more specific data values may be served in a single server, although the entire system 680 includes two or more servers. The servers as a whole are a server stack that is referenced herein as a distributed key-value-store (KVS) 621.

The first compute element 600-c 1 and the distributed KVS 621 are in communicative contact through a shared input-output medium 685 and a medium controller 685-mc, which together handle requests for data values from the first compute element 600-c 1 to the KVS 621, and which handle also data values sent from the KVS 621 to either the first compute element 600-c 1 or to the cache memory 601. In some embodiments, the system 680 includes also a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 677, which receives data values from the shared input-output medium 685 and medium controller 685-mc, and which may pass such data values directly to the cache memory 601 rather than to the first compute element 600-c 1, thereby at least temporarily freeing the first compute element 600-c 1.

In some embodiments illustrated in FIG. 13A, the KVS 621 is a shared memory pool 512 from FIG. 10B, which includes multiple memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, and wherein one of the memory modules is configured to store the first value 618-v 1. In some embodiments, the multiple memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, are based on random-access-memory, thereby facilitating fast extraction of at least the desired value 618-v 1. In some embodiments, “fast extraction” can be executed in less than 3 (three) microseconds. In some embodiments, the blocking of lower priority transactions 686-tran enables sending of the new request 600-req 2 from FIGS. 11B and 11C in less than 3 (three) microseconds, thereby matching timing of the extraction, and consequently thereby facilitating overall fast key-value transactions 618-kv-tran, each such fast transaction taking less than 10 (ten) microseconds.

FIG. 13B illustrates one embodiment of a system configured to interleave high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran over a shared input-output medium, in which both types of transactions are packet-based transactions and the system is configured to stop packets of the lower priority transactions 686-tran in order to commence communication of packets of the high priority transactions 681-kv-tran. In FIG. 13B, the first transaction processed by the system is one of a plurality of low priority transactions 686-tran, including packets P1, P2, and Pn at the top of FIG. 13B, and the second transaction processed by the system is one of a plurality of high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, including packets P1, P2, and Pn at the bottom of FIG. 13B. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13B, all of the transactions are packet-based transactions, and they are performed via a medium controller in the system 685-mc from FIG. 13A in conjunction with a shared input-output medium 685 from FIG. 13A. The medium controller 685-mc is configured to stop 686-stop the on-going communication of a first packet 686-tran-first-P belonging to one of the lower priority transactions 686-tran, and immediately thereafter to commence communication of a second packet 681-kv-second-P belonging to one of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran. After the second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P has been communicated, the medium controller 685-mc is configured to resume 686-resume communication of the first packet 686-tran-first-P.

FIG. 13C illustrates one embodiment of part of a system configured to interleave high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran over a shared input-output medium, comprising a network-interface-card (NIC) 685-NIC including a medium-access-controller (MAC) 685-mac. In FIG. 13C, a shared input-output medium 685 from FIG. 13A is a network-interface-card 685-NIC together with a medium-access-controller (MAC) 685-mac that is located on the network-interface-card (NIC) 685-NIC. The elements shown help communicate both high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran and lower priority transactions 686-tran, either of which may be communicated either (i) from a KVS 621 to a cache 601 or first compute element 600-c 1, or (ii) from a cache 601 or first compute element 600-c 1 to a KVS 621. The lower priority transactions 686-tran are not necessarily related to KVS 621, and may be, as an example, a general network communication unrelated with keys or values.

One embodiment is a system 680 configured to interleave high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran over a shared input-output medium 685, including a shared input-output medium 685 associated with a medium controller 685-mc, a central-processing-unit (CPU) 600-CPU including a first compute element 600-c 1 and a first cache memory 601, and a key-value-store (KVS) 621 communicatively connected with the central-processing-unit 600-CPU via the shared input-output medium 685. Further, the central-processing-unit 600-CPU is configured to initiate high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran in conjunction with the key-value-store (KVS) 621 said shared input-output medium 685, and the medium controller 685-mc is configured to block lower priority transactions 686-tran via the shared input-output medium 685 during at least parts of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, thereby achieving the interleaving without delaying the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran.

In one alternative to the system 680 to interleave transactions, further the key-value-store (KVS) 621 is configured to store a first value 618-v 1 associated with a first key 618-k 1. Further, the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran include at least a new request 600-req 2 from FIGS. 11B and 11C for the first value 618-v 1, wherein the new request 600-req 2 is sent from the first compute element 600-c 1 to the key-value-store 621 via the shared input-output medium 685, and the new request 600-req 2 conveys the first key 618-k 1 to the key-value-store 621.

In some embodiments, the key-value-store (KVS) 621 is a distributed key-value-store, including a plurality of servers 618 a, 618 b, 618 c. In some forms of these embodiments, the distributed key-value-store is a shared memory pool 512 including a plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk, wherein one of the plurality of memory modules is configured to store the first value 618-v 1. In some forms of these embodiments, the plurality of memory modules 540-m 1, 540-m 2, 540-mk are based on random-access-memory, thereby facilitating fast extraction of at least the first value 618-v 1. In some forms of these embodiments, “fast extraction” is done in less than 3 (three) microseconds. In some forms of these embodiments, the blocking of lower priority transactions 686-tran enables sending of the new request in less than 3 (three) microseconds, thereby matching timing of the extraction, thereby consequently facilitating overall fast key-value transactions, each transaction taking less than 10 (ten) microsecond.

In a second alternative to the system 680 to interleave transactions, further the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran are latency-critical key-value transactions, and the medium controller 685-mc is configured to interrupt any of the lower priority transactions 686-tran and immediately commence at least one of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, thereby facilitating said latency criticality.

In one possible configuration of the second alternative embodiment just described, further both the high priority key-value transaction 681-kv-tran and the lower priority transactions 686-tran are packet-based transactions performed via the medium controller 685-mc in conjunction with the shared input-output medium 685. Further, the medium controller 685-mc is configured to stop 686-stop on-going communication of a first packet 686-tran-first-P belonging to the lower priority transactions 686-tran via the shared input-output medium 685, and immediately to commence communication of a second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P belonging to the high priority key-value transaction 681-kv-tran via the shared input-output medium 685 instead, thereby achieving the communication interruption at the packet level.

In one possible variation of the configuration just described, the medium controller 685-mc is configured to resume 686-resume communication of the first packet 686-tran-first-P after the second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P has finished communicating, thereby facilitating packet fragmentation.

In a third alternative to the system 680 to interleave transactions, further the shared input-output medium is based on an interconnect element selected from a group consisting of: (i) peripheral-component-interconnect-express (PCIE) computer expansion bus 105-pcie from FIG. 3A, (ii) Ethernet 105-eth from FIG. 3B, and (iii) a network-interface-card (NIC) 685-NIC.

In some embodiments associated with the PCIE computer expansion bus 105-pcie from FIG. 3A, the medium controller 685-mc may be implemented as part of a root-complex 105-root from FIG. 3A associated with the PCIE computer expansion bus 105-pcie.

In some embodiments associated with the Ethernet 105-eth from FIG. 3B, the medium controller 685-mc may be implemented as part of a media-access-controller (MAC) 105-mac from FIG. 3B associated with the Ethernet 105-eth.

In some embodiments associated with the NIC 685-NIC, the medium controller 685-mc may be implemented as part of a media-access-controller (MAC) 685-mac associated with the NIC 685-NIC. In some forms of these embodiments, the NIC 685-NIC is in compliance with Ethernet.

In a fourth alternative to the system 680 to interleave transactions, further both the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran and the lower priority transactions 686-tran are packet-based transactions performed via the medium controller 685-mc in conjunction with the shared input-output medium 685. Further, the medium controller 685-mc is configured to deny access to the shared input-output medium 685 from a first packet 686-tran-first-P belonging to the lower priority transactions 686-tran, and instead grant access to the shared input-output medium 685 to a second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P belonging to the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, thereby giving higher priority to the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran over the lower priority transactions 686-tran.

In a fifth alternative to the system 680 to interleave transactions, further the key-value-store 621 is configured to store a first value 618-v 1 associated with a first key 618-k 1. Further, the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran include at least sending of the first value 618-v 1 from the key-value-store (KVS) 621 to the central-processing-unit 600-CPU via the shared input-output medium 685.

In one possible configuration of the fifth alternative just described, the system includes further a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller 677 configured to receive the first value 618-v 1 via the shared input-output medium 685 directly into the first cache memory 601.

In a sixth alternative embodiment to the system 680 to interleave transactions, further the shared input-output medium 685 includes an electro-optical interface 107-a from FIG. 5A and an optical fiber 107-fiber-ab from FIG. 5A which are operative to transport the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran and the lower priority transactions 686-tran.

FIG. 14A illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran over a shared input-output medium 685, together with lower priority transactions 686-tran over the same shared input-output medium 685, without adversely affecting system performance. In step 1041, a medium controller 685-mc associated with a shared input-output medium 685 detects that a second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P associated with high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran is pending; meaning, as an example, that the second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P has been recently placed in a transmission queue associated with the input-output medium 685.

In step 1042, as a result of the detection, the medium controller 685-mc stops handling of a first packet 686-tran-first-P associated with a lower priority transactions 686-tran via the shared input-output medium 685. In step 1043, the medium controller 685-mc commences transmission of the second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P via said shared input-output medium 685, thereby preventing the lower priority transactions 686-tran from delaying the high priority key-value transaction 681-kv-tran.

In a first alternative to the method just described for mixing high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran, further the prevention leads to a preservation of timing performance of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, wherein such timing performance is selected from a group consisting of: (i) latency of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, and (ii) bandwidth of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran.

In a second alternative to the method described for mixing high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran, further the prevention leads to a preservation of latency of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, and as a result, such latency of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran is shorter than a time required to transmit a shortest packet belonging to said lower priority transactions 686-tran.

FIG. 14B illustrates one embodiment of a method for mixing high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran over a shared input-output medium 685, together with lower priority transactions 686-tran over the same shared input-output medium 685, without adversely affecting system performance. In step 1051, a medium controller 685-mc associated with a shared input-output medium 685 detects that a second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P associated with high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran is pending. In step 1052, as a result of the detection, the medium controller 685-mc delays handling of a first packet 686-tran-first-P associated with a lower priority transactions 686-tran via the shared input-output medium 685. In step 1053, the medium controller 685-mc transmits the second packet 681-kv-tran-second-P via said shared input-output medium 685, thereby preventing the lower priority transactions 686-tran from delaying the high priority key-value transaction 681-kv-tran.

In a first alternative to the method just described for mixing high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran, further the prevention leads to a preservation of timing performance of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, wherein such timing performance is selected from a group consisting of: (i) latency of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, and (ii) bandwidth of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran.

In a second alternative to the method described for mixing high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran together with lower priority transactions 686-tran, further the prevention leads to a preservation of latency of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran, and as a result, such latency of the high priority key-value transactions 681-kv-tran is shorter than a time required to transmit a shortest packet belonging to lower priority transactions 686-tran.

FIG. 14C illustrates one embodiment of a method for reducing latency associated with key-value transactions 686-dv-tran involving a distributed data store interconnected by a network. In step 1061, a first network-interface-card (NIC) 685-NIC receives, from a first compute element 600-c 1, a new request 600-req 2 from FIGS. 11B and 11C to extract with high priority a first value 618-v 1 associated with a first key 618-k 1. In step 1062, consequently the first network-interface-card 685-NIC delays a lower priority transaction 686-tran or other network-related activity that prevents or that might prevent, the first network-interface-card 685-NIC from immediately communicating the first key 618-k 1 to a destination server 618 a storing the first value 618-v 1 and belonging to a key-value-store 621 comprising a plurality of servers 618 a, 618 b, 618 c. In step 1063, as a result of such delaying, the first network-interface card 685-NIC communicates immediately the first key 618-k 1 to the destination server 618 a, thereby allowing the destination server 618 a to start immediately processing of the first key 618-k 1 as required for locating, within the destination server 618 a, the first value 618-v 1 in conjunction with said new request 600-req 2. It is understood that the phrase “lower priority transaction 686-tran or other network-related activity” includes the start of any lower priority transaction 686-tran, a specific packet in the middle of a lower priority transaction 686-tran which is delayed to allow communication of a high priority transaction 681-kv-tran or of any packet associated with a high priority transaction 681-kv-tran, and any other network activity that is not associated with the high priority transaction 681-kv-tran and that could delay or otherwise impede the communication of a high priority transaction 681-kv-tran or any packet associated with a high priority transaction 681-kv-tran.

In one embodiment, said delaying comprises prioritizing the new request 600-req 2 ahead of the lower priority transaction 686-tran or other network-related activity, such that lower priority transaction 686-tran or other network related activity starts only after the communicating of the first key 618-k 1.

One embodiment is a system 680 (FIG. 13A) configured to facilitate low latency key-value transactions, including: a shared input-output medium 685 associated with a medium controller 685-mc; a central-processing-unit (CPU) 600-CPU; and a key-value-store 621 comprising a first data interface 523-1 (FIG. 10B) and a first memory module 540-m 1 (FIG. 10B), said first data interface is configured to find a first value 618-v 1 (FIG. 13A) in said first memory module and extract said first value from said first memory module using random access read cycles, and said key-value-store 621 is communicatively connected with said central-processing-unit 600-CPU via said shared input-output medium 685. In one embodiment, the central-processing-unit 600-CPU is configured to initiate a high priority key-value transaction 681-kv-tran (FIG. 13A) in conjunction with said key-value-store 621, by sending to said key-value-store, via said shared input-output medium 685, a new request 600-req 2 (FIG. 11C) for said first value 618-v 1, said new request comprising a first key 618-k 1 associated with said first value and operative to facilitate said finding; and the medium controller 685-mc is configured to block lower priority transactions 686-tran via said shared input-output medium 685, thereby preventing said lower priority transactions from delaying said new request 600-req 2, thereby allowing the system to minimize a time between said sending of the new request to said extraction of the first value 618-v 1. In one embodiment, said prevention of delay and said random access read cycles together result in said minimization, such that said time between said sending of the new request 600-req 2 to said extraction of the first value 618-v 1 is kept below 5 (five) microseconds. In one embodiment, as a result from said minimization, said high priority key-value transaction 681-kv-tran results in the delivery of said first value 618-v 1 to said central-processing-unit 600-CPU in less than 10 (ten) microseconds from said initiation.

FIG. 15A illustrates one embodiment of a system 700 configured to control random access memory in a shared memory pool 512. There is a first server 618 a, which includes a first memory module 540-m 1, a first data interface 523-1, and a second compute element 700-c 2. The first memory module 540-m 1 includes various data sets which may be requested by a first compute element 600-c 1 located on a second server 618 b. The first compute element 600-c 1 may request access 600-req 2 to a data set 703-D1 over a communication network 702 that is in communicative contact with the first server 618 a, in which the request is sent to the first data interface 523-1. Simultaneously: (i) the first data interface 523-1 performs a first random access read cycle 703-RD-D1 in conjunction with the first memory module 540-m 1 to retrieve the requested first data set 703-D1, and (ii) the access controller 701 determines if the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to have access to the requested data set 703-D1, such that the determination does not delay the first random access read cycle 703-RD-D1. If the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to access the first data set 703-D1, then the first server 618 b will provide the requested data set 703-D1 to the first compute element 600-c 1. If the first compute element 600-c 1 is not authorized to receive the first data set 703-D1, then the access controller 701 will prevent delivery of the first data set 703-D1.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15A, a second compute element 700-c 2 is co-located on the first server 618 a with the first data interface 523-1 and the first memory module 540-m 1. The second compute element 700-c 2 is in communicative contact with the first data interface 523-1 via a local data bus 704, which could be, for example, a PCIE bus or Infiniband. The second compute element 700-c 2 requests 700-req a second data set 703-D2 from the first memory module 540-m 1. The processing of the second request 700-req is similar to the processing of the request 600-req 2 from the first compute element 600-c 1. This second request 700-req is sent to the first data interface 523-1. Simultaneously: (i) the access controller 701 determines if the second compute element 700-c 2 is authorized to access the second data set 703-D2, while (ii) the first data interface 523-1 in conjunction with the first memory module 540-m 1 perform a second random access read cycle 703-RD-D2 resulting in the retrieval of the second data set 703-D2. If the access controller 701 determines that the second compute element 700-c 2 is authorized to access the second data set 703-D2, then the second data set 703-D2 is sent to the second compute element 700-c 2 over the local data bus 704. If the second compute element 700-c 2 is not authorized to access the second data set 703-D2, then the access controller 701 prevents delivery of the second data set 703-D2 to the second compute element 700-c 2.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15A, a system is configured to allow or not allow a compute element to write a data set into the shared memory pool. In one embodiment, a first compute element 600-c 1 requests to write a third data set into a third address located within the first memory module 540-m 1. This third request is sent from the first compute element 600-c 1 over the communication network 702 to the first data interface 523-1, and the third data set is then temporarily stored in buffer 7TB. After the first compute element 600-c 1 sends this third request, the first compute element 600-c 1 can continue doing other work without waiting for an immediate response to the third request. If the access controller 701 determines that the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to write the third data set into the third address, then the first data interface 523-1 may copy the third data set into the third address within the first memory module 540-m 1. If the first compute element is not authorized to write into the third address, then the access controller 701 will prevent the copying of the third data set into the third address within the first memory module 540-m 1.

In an alternative to the alternative embodiment just described, the requesting compute element is not the first compute element 600-c 1 but rather the second compute element 700-c 2, in which case the third request is conveyed by the local data bus 704, and the rest of the process is essentially as described above, all with the second compute element 700-c 2 rather than the first compute element 600-c 1.

In the various embodiments illustrated in FIG. 15A, different permutations are possible. For example, if a particular compute element, be it the first 600-c 1 or the second 700-c 2 or another compute element, makes multiple requests, all of which are rejected by the access controller 701 due to lack of authorization, that compute element may be barred from accessing a particular memory module, or barred even from accessing any data set in the system.

FIG. 15B illustrates one embodiment of a sub-system with an access controller 701 that includes a secured configuration 701-sec which may be updated by a reliable source 701-source. This is a sub-system of the entire system 700. Access controller 701 is implemented as a hardware element having a secured configuration function 701-sec operative to set the access controller into a state in which a particular compute element (600-c 1, or 700-c 2, or another) is authorized to access some data set located in first memory module 540-m 1, but a different compute element (600-c 1, or 700-c 2, or another) is not authorized to access the same data set. The rules of authorization are located within a secured configuration 701-sec which is part of the access controller 701. These rules are created and controlled by a reliable source 701-source that is not related to any of the particular compute elements. The lack of relationship to the compute elements means that the compute elements cannot create, delete, or alter any access rule or state of access, thereby assuring that no compute element can gain access to a data set to which it is not authorized. FIG. 15B shows a particular embodiment in which the reliable source 701-source is located apart from the access controller, and thereby controls the secured configuration 701-sec remotely. In alternative embodiments, the reliable source 701-source may be located within the access controller 701, but in all cases the reliable source 701-source lacks a relationship to the compute elements.

The communicative connection between the reliable source 701-source and the secured configuration 701-sec is any kind of communication link, while encryption and/or authentication techniques are employed in order to facilitate said secure configuration.

FIG. 15C illustrates one alternative embodiment of a system operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool. Many of the elements described with respect to FIGS. 15A and 15B. appear here also, but in a slightly different configuration. There is a motherboard 700-MB which includes the second compute element 700-c 2, the first data interface 523-1, and the shared memory pool 512, but these structural elements do not all reside on a single module within the motherboard 700-MB. The first memory module 540-m 1, and the first data interface 523-1, including the access controller 701, are co-located on one module 700-module which is placed on the motherboard 700-MB. The second compute element 700-c 2, which still makes requests 700-req over the local data bus 704, is not co-located on module 700-module, but rather is in contact with module 700-module through a first connection 700-con-1 which is connected to a first slot 700-SL in the motherboard. In FIG. 15C, the first compute element 600-c 1 still makes requests 600-req 2 over a communication network 702 that is connected to the motherboard 700-MB through a second connection 700-con-2, which might be, for example, and Ethernet connector. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15C, there is a reliable source 701-source that controls authorizations of compute elements to access data sets, such reliable source 701-source is located outside the motherboard 700-MB, and the particular connection between the reliable source 701-source and the motherboard 700-MB is the communication network 702 which is shared with the first compute element 600-c 1. This is only one possible embodiment, and in other embodiments, the reliable source 701-source does not share the communication network 702 with the first compute element 600-c 1, but rather has its own communication connection with the motherboard 700-MB. In some embodiments, the length of the local data bus 704 is on the order of a few centimeters, whereas the length of the communication network 702 is on the order of a few meters to tens of meters.

One embodiment is a system 700 operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool, including a first data interface 523-1 associated with a first memory module 540-m 1 belonging to a shared memory pool 512, an access controller 701 associated with the first data interface 523-1 and with the first memory module 540-m 1, and a first compute element 600-c 1 connected with the first data interface 523-1 via a communication network 702, whereas the first memory module 540-m 1 is an external memory element relative to the first compute element 600-c 1. That is to say, there is not a direct connection between the first compute element 600-c 1 and the first memory module 540-m 1 (e.g. the two are placed on different servers). Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to receive, via the communication network 702, a new request 600-req 2 from the first compute element 600-c 1 to access a first set of data 703-D1 currently stored in the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is further configured to retrieve the first set of data 703-D1, as a response to the new request 600-req 2, by performing at least a first random access read cycle 703-RD-D1 in conjunction with the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the access controller 701 is configured to prevent delivery of said first set of data 703-D1 to said first compute element 600-c 1 when determining that said first compute element is not authorized to access the first set of data, but such that the retrieval is allowed to start anyway, thereby preventing the determination from delaying the retrieval when the first compute element is authorized to access the first set of data.

In one embodiment, said retrieval is relatively a low latency process due to the read cycle 703-RD-D1 being a random access read cycle that does not require sequential access. In one embodiment, the retrieval, which is a relatively low latency process, comprises the random access read cycle 703-RD-D1, and the retrieval is therefore executed entirely over a period of between 10 nanoseconds and 1000 nanoseconds, thereby making said retrieval highly sensitive to even relatively short delays of between 10 nanoseconds and 1000 nanoseconds associated with said determination, thereby requiring said retrieval to start regardless of said determination process.

In one alternative embodiment to the system 700 operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool 512, the system includes further a second compute element 700-c 2 associated with the first memory module 540-m 1, whereas the first memory module is a local memory element relative to the second compute element. The system 700 includes further a local data bus 704 operative to communicatively connect the second compute element 700-c 2 with the first data interface 523-1. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to receive, via the local data bus 704, a second request 700-req from the second compute element 700-c 2 to access a second set of data 703-D2 currently stored in the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to retrieve the second set of data 703-D2, as a response to said second request 700-req, by performing at least a second random access read cycle 703-RD-D2 in conjunction with the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the access controller 701 is configured to prevent delivery of the second set of data 703-D2 to the second compute element 700-c 2 after determining that the second compute element in not authorized to access the second set of data.

In one possible configuration of the alternative embodiment described above, further the access controller 701 is implemented as a hardware element having a secured configuration function 701-sec operative to set the access controller into a state in which the second compute element 700-c 2 is not authorized to access the second data set 703-D2. Further, the secured configuration function 701-sec is controllable only by a reliable source 701-source that is not related to the second compute element 700-c 2, thereby preventing the second compute element 700-c 2 from altering the state, thereby assuring that the second compute element does not gain access to the second data set 703-D2.

In a second possible configuration of the alternative embodiment described above, further the second compute element 700-c 2, the first data interface 523-1, the access controller 701, and the first memory module 540-m 1 are placed inside a first server 618 a. Further, the first compute element 600-c 1 is placed inside a second server 618 b, which is communicatively connected with the first server 618 a via the communication network 702.

In one variation of the second possible configuration described above, further the first data interface 523-1, the access controller 701, and the first memory module 540-m 1 are packed as a first module 700-module inside the first server 618 a.

In one option of the variation described above, further the second compute element 700-c 2 is placed on a first motherboard 700-MB. Further, the first module 700-module has a form factor of a card, and is connected to the first motherboard 700-MB via a first slot 700-SL in the first motherboard.

In a second alternative embodiment to the system 700 operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool 512, further the retrieval is performed prior to the prevention, such that the retrieval is performed simultaneously with the determination, thereby avoiding delays in the retrieval. Further, the prevention is achieved by blocking the first set of data 703-D1 retrieved from reaching the first compute element 600-c 1.

In a third alternative embodiment to the system 700 operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool 512, further the prevention is achieved by interfering with the retrieval after the determination, thereby causing the retrieval to fail.

In a fourth alternative embodiment to the system 700 operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool 512, further the shared memory pool is a key-value store, the first data set 703-D1 is a first value 618-v 1 (FIG. 13A) associated with a first key 618-k 1, the first key 618-k 1 is conveyed by said new request 600-req 2, and the retrieval comprises finding the first value 618-v 1 in the first memory module 540-m 1 using the first key 618-k 1 conveyed, prior to the performing of the first random access read cycle 703-RD-D1.

In one possible configuration of the fourth alternative embodiment described above, further the authorization is managed by a reliable source 701-source at the key-value store level, such that the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to access a first plurality of values associated respectively with a first plurality of keys, and such that the first compute element is not authorized to access a second plurality of values associated respectively with a second plurality of keys, wherein the first value 618-v 1 belongs to said second plurality of values.

In a fifth alternative embodiment to the system 700 operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool 512, further the first memory module 540-m 1 is based on a random-access-memory (RAM), the first data set 703-D1 is located in a first address associated with the random-access-memory, and the first address is conveyed by the new request 600-req 2.

In one possible configuration of the fifth alternative embodiment described above, further the authorization is managed by a reliable source 701-source at the random-access-memory address level, such that the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to access a first range of addresses, and such that the first compute element is not authorized to access a second range of addresses, wherein the first data set 703-D1 has an address that is within the second range of addresses. In some embodiments, the random-access-memory (RAM) is DRAM. In some embodiments, random-access-memory (RAM), is Flash memory.

One embodiment is a system 700 operative to control random memory access in a shared memory pool 512, including a first data interface 523-1 associated with a first memory module 540-m 1 belonging to a shared memory pool 512, an access controller 701 and a temporary write buffer 7TB associated with the first data interface 523-1 and the first memory module 540-m 1, and a first compute element 600-c 1 connected with the first data interface 523-1 via a communication network 702 whereas the first memory module 540-m 1 is a memory element that is external relative to the first compute element. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to receive, via the communication network 702, a third request from the first compute element 600-c 1 to perform a random write cycle for a third set of data into a third address within the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to temporarily store the third set of data and third address in the temporary write buffer 7TB, as a response to the third request, thereby allowing the first compute element 600-c 1 to assume that the third set of data is now successfully stored in the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to copy the third set of data from the temporary write buffer 7TB into the third address within the first memory module 540-m 1, using at least one random access write cycle, but only after said access controller 701 determining that the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to write into the third address.

One embodiment is a system 700-module operative to control data access in a shared memory pool 512, including a first memory module 540-m 1 belonging to a shared memory pool 512, configured to store a first 703-D1 and a second 703-D2 set of data. The system includes also a first data interface 523-1 associated with the first memory module 540-m 1, and having access to (i) a first connection 700-con-1 with a local data bus 704 of a second system 700-MB, and to (ii) a second connection 700-con-2 with a communication network 702. The system includes also an access controller 701 associated with the first data interface 523-1 and the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to facilitate a first memory transaction associated with the first set of data 703-D1, via the communication network 702, between a first compute element 600-c 1 and the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the first data interface 523-1 is configured to facilitate a second memory transaction associated with the second set of data 703-D2, via the local data bus 704, between a second compute element 700-c 2 belonging to the second system 700-MB and the first memory module 540-m 1. Further, the access controller 701 is configured to prevent the second compute element 700-c 2 from performing a third memory transaction via the local data bus 704 in conjunction with the first set of data 703-D1, by causing the first data interface 523-1 to not facilitate the third memory transaction.

In an alternative embodiment to the system 700-module operative to control data access in a shared memory pool 512, further the second system 700-MB is a motherboard having a first slot 700-SL, and the first connection 700-con-1 is a connector operative to connect with said first slot.

In one possible configuration of the alternative embodiment just described, further the first local bus 704 is selected from a group of interconnects consisting of: (i) peripheral-component-interconnect-express (PCIE) computer expansion bus, (ii) Ethernet, and (iii) Infiniband.

In a second alternative embodiment to the system 700-module operative to control data access in a shared memory pool 512, further the communication network 702 is based on Ethernet, and the second connection 700-con-2 in an Ethernet connector. In one embodiment, system 700-module is a network interface card (NIC).

FIG. 16A illustrates one embodiment of a method for determining authorization to retrieve a first value 681-v 1 in a key-value store 621 while preserving low latency associated with random-access retrieval. In step 1071, a first data interface 523-1 receives a new request 600-req 2 from a first compute element 600-c 1 to access a first value 618-v 1 (FIG. 13A) currently stored in a first memory module 540-m 1 associated with the first data interface, wherein the first memory module belongs to a key-value store 621 (FIG. 13A), and the first value is associated with a first key 618-k 1 that is conveyed by the new request 600-req 2. In step 1072, a determination process is started in which an access controller 701 associated with the first data interface 523-1 determines whether or not the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to access the first value. In step 1073, using the first key 618-k 1, the first data interface 523-1 finds in the memory module 540-m 1 a first location that stores the first value 618-v 1, and this finding occurs simultaneously with the determination process described in step 1072. In step 1074, the first data interface 523-1 performs a first random access read cycle 703-RD-D1 in conjunction with the first memory module 540-m 1, thereby retrieving the first value 618-v 1, and this cycle is performed simultaneously with the determination process described in step 1072. In step 1075, the access controller 701 finishes the determination process. In step 1076, when the determination process results in a conclusion that the first compute element 600-c 1 is not authorized to access the first value 618-v 1, the access controller 701 prevents delivery of the first value 618-v 1 retrieved for the first compute element 600-c 1. In some embodiments, the finding in step 1073 and the performing in step 1074 are associated with random-access actions done in conjunction with the first memory module 540-m 1, and the result is that the retrieval has a low latency, which means that the simultaneity of steps 1073 and 1074 with the determination process facilitates a preservation of such low latency.

In an alternative embodiment to the method just described for determining authorization to retrieve a first value 618-v 1 in a key-value store 621 while preserving low latency associated with random-access retrieval, further when the determination process results in a conclusion that the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to access said value 618-v 1, the access controller 701 allows delivery of the retrieved value 618-v 1 to the first compute element 600-c 1.

FIG. 16B illustrates one embodiment of a method for determining authorization to retrieve a first value 618-v 1 in a key-value store 621 while preserving low latency associated with random-access retrieval. In step 1081, a first data interface 523-1 receives a new request 600-req 2 from a first compute element 600-c 1 to access a first value 618-v 1 (FIG. 13A) currently stored in a first memory module 540-m 1 associated with the first data interface, wherein the first memory module belongs to a key-value store 621 (FIG. 13A), and the first value is associated with a first key 618-k 1 that is conveyed by the new request 600-req 2. In step 1082, a determination process is started in which an access controller 701 associated with the first data interface 523-1 determines whether or not the first compute element 600-c 1 is authorized to access the first value. In step 1083, using a the first key 618-k 1, the first data interface 523-1 starts a retrieval process that includes (i) finding in the first memory module 540-m 1 a first location that stores the first value 618-v 1, and (ii) performing a first random access read cycle 703-RD-D1 at the first location to obtain the first value 618-v 1, such that the retrieval process occur simultaneously with the determination process performed by the access controller 701. In step 1084, the access controller finishes the determination process. In step 1085, when the determination process results in a conclusion that the first compute element 600-c 1 is not authorized to access the first value 618-v 1, the access controller 701 interferes with the retrieval process, thereby causing the retrieval process to fail, thereby preventing delivery of the first value 618-v 1 to the first compute element 600-c 1.

In this description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, the embodiments/cases of the invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In other instances, well-known hardware, materials, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. In this description, references to “one embodiment” and “one case” mean that the feature being referred to may be included in at least one embodiment/case of the invention. Moreover, separate references to “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, “one case”, or “some cases” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment/case. Illustrated embodiments/cases are not mutually exclusive, unless so stated and except as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the invention may include any variety of combinations and/or integrations of the features of the embodiments/cases described herein. Also herein, flow diagram illustrates non-limiting embodiment/case example of the methods, and block diagrams illustrate non-limiting embodiment/case examples of the devices. Some operations in the flow diagram may be described with reference to the embodiments/cases illustrated by the block diagrams. However, the method of the flow diagram could be performed by embodiments/cases of the invention other than those discussed with reference to the block diagrams, and embodiments/cases discussed with reference to the block diagrams could perform operations different from those discussed with reference to the flow diagram. Moreover, although the flow diagram may depict serial operations, certain embodiments/cases could perform certain operations in parallel and/or in different orders from those depicted. Moreover, the use of repeated reference numerals and/or letters in the text and/or drawings is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments/cases and/or configurations discussed. Furthermore, methods and mechanisms of the embodiments/cases will sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, some embodiments/cases may include multiple iterations of a method or multiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted otherwise. For example, a system may include multiple compute elements, each of which is communicatively connected to multiple servers, even though specific illustrations presented herein include only one compute element or a maximum of two compute elements.

Certain features of the embodiments/cases, which may have been, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments/cases, may also be provided in various combinations in a single embodiment/case. Conversely, various features of the embodiments/cases, which may have been, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment/case, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination. The embodiments/cases are not limited in their applications to the details of the order or sequence of steps of operation of methods, or to details of implementation of devices, set in the description, drawings, or examples. In addition, individual blocks illustrated in the figures may be functional in nature and do not necessarily correspond to discrete hardware elements. While the methods disclosed herein have been described and shown with reference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it is understood that these steps may be combined, sub-divided, or reordered to form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of the embodiments/cases. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of the steps is not a limitation of the embodiments/cases. Embodiments/cases described in conjunction with specific examples are presented by way of example, and not limitation. Moreover, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, comprising: a first compute element associated with a first cache memory; and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) comprising a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys, said plurality of servers communicatively connected with said first cache memory via a switching network; wherein said system is configured to: send, from said first compute element, to a second server of said plurality of servers identified using a second key of said plurality of keys, via said switching network, a new request to receive a second value of said plurality of values associated with said second key; and receive, via said switching network, from a first server of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory, a first value of said plurality of values previously requested in conjunction with a first key of said plurality of keys; and wherein the system is configured to then: process, in said first compute element, in conjunction with said first cache memory, said first value received, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request; and derive, in said first compute element, from a third key of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value and simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request, an identity of a third server of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third value of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said derivation is done by applying on said third key a technique selected from a group consisting of: (i) hashing, (ii) table-based mapping, and (iii) any mapping technique either analytical or using look-up tables.
 3. A system operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, comprising: a first compute element associated with a first cache memory; and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) comprising a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys, said plurality of servers communicatively connected with said first cache memory via a switching network; wherein said system is configured to: send, from said first compute element, to a second server of said plurality of servers identified using a second key of said plurality of keys, via said switching network, a new request to receive a second value of said plurality of values associated with said second key; and receive, via said switching network, from a first server of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory, a first value of said plurality of values previously requested in conjunction with a first key of said plurality of keys; and wherein the system is configured to then: process, in said first compute element, in conjunction with said first cache memory, said first value received, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request; and derive, in said first compute element, from a third key of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value, an identity of a third server of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third value of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage; wherein: said system is configured to dedicate said first compute element for: (i) sending any one of said requests to receive respectively any one of said plurality of values, (ii) processing any one of said plurality of values, and (iii) deriving identities of any one of said plurality of servers using respectively any one of said plurality of keys; thereby minimizing at least: (i) a second period between said receiving and said processing, and (ii) a third period between said processing and said deriving, thereby facilitating said efficient usage.
 4. The system of claim 3, further comprising: a second compute element, together with said first compute element belonging to a first central-processing-unit (CPU); and an operating-system (OS) configured to control and manage said first and second compute element; wherein said operating-system is further configured to manage a plurality of processes comprising: (i) said sending, receiving, processing, and deriving, and (ii) other unrelated processes, and wherein said operating-system is further configured to achieve said dedication by blocking said other unrelated processes from running on said first compute element, and by causing said other unrelated processes to run on said second compute element.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein as a result of said dedication and said simultaneity and said first cache memory, said derivation and processing together account for at least 50 (fifty) per-cent of time spent by said first compute element over a period extending from a beginning of said sending to an end of said deriving, thereby achieving a high computational duty-cycle, thereby allowing said first compute element to process said plurality of keys and values at an increased rate.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said period extending from said beginning of said sending to said end of said deriving is less than 10 (ten) microseconds.
 7. The system of claim 5, wherein said increased rate facilitates a sustained transaction rate of at least 100,000 (one hundred thousand) of said plurality of keys and values per second.
 8. A system operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, comprising: a first compute element associated with a first cache memory; and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) comprising a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys, said plurality of servers communicatively connected with said first cache memory via a switching network; wherein said system is configured to: send, from said first compute element, to a second server of said plurality of servers identified using a second key of said plurality of keys, via said switching network, a new request to receive a second value of said plurality of values associated with said second key; and receive, via said switching network, from a first server of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory, a first value of said plurality of values previously requested in conjunction with a first key of said plurality of keys; and wherein the system is configured to then: process, in said first compute element, in conjunction with said first cache memory, said first value received, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request; and derive, in said first compute element, from a third key of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value, an identity of a third server of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third value of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage; wherein said first compute element and said first cache memory belong to a first central-processing-unit (CPU), such that the first compute element has a high bandwidth access to the first cache memory, thereby allowing said processing to conclude in less than 5 (five) microseconds.
 9. A system operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, comprising: a first compute element associated with a first cache memory; a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller; and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) comprising a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys, said plurality of servers communicatively connected with said first cache memory via a switching network; wherein said system is configured to: send, from said first compute element, to a second server of said plurality of servers identified using a second key of said plurality of keys, via said switching network, a new request to receive a second value of said plurality of values associated with said second key; and receive, via said switching network, from a first server of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory, a first value of said plurality of values previously requested in conjunction with a first key of said plurality of keys; and wherein the system is configured to then: process, in said first compute element, in conjunction with said first cache memory, said first value received, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request; and derive, in said first compute element, from a third key of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value, an identity of a third server of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third value of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage; wherein the direct-memory-access (DMA) controller is configured to receive said first value via said switching network directly into said first cache memory.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said direct-memory-access controller frees the first compute element to perform said identification of said second server simultaneously with said receiving of said first value, thereby facilitating said efficient usage.
 11. A system operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, comprising: a first compute element associated with a first cache memory; and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) comprising a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys, said plurality of servers communicatively connected with said first cache memory via a switching network; wherein said system is configured to: send, from said first compute element, to a second server of said plurality of servers identified using a second key of said plurality of keys, via said switching network, a new request to receive a second value of said plurality of values associated with said second key; and receive, via said switching network, from a first server of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory, a first value of said plurality of values previously requested in conjunction with a first key of said plurality of keys; and wherein the system is configured to then: process, in said first compute element, in conjunction with said first cache memory, said first value received, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request; and derive, in said first compute element, from a third key of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value, an identity of a third server of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third value of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage; wherein the system is further configured to: send to the third server of said plurality of servers identified, via said switching network, said future request to receive said third value; and receive, via said switching network, from said second server, into said first cache memory, said second value; and then process said second value received, simultaneously with said third server and switching network handling of said future request.
 12. A system operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, comprising: a first compute element associated with a first cache memory; a network-interface-card (NIC); and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) comprising a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys, said plurality of servers communicatively connected with said first cache memory via a switching network; wherein said system is configured to: send, from said first compute element, to a second server of said plurality of servers identified using a second key of said plurality of keys, via said switching network, a new request to receive a second value of said plurality of values associated with said second key; and receive, via said switching network, from a first server of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory, a first value of said plurality of values previously requested in conjunction with a first key of said plurality of keys; and wherein the system is configured to then: process, in said first compute element, in conjunction with said first cache memory, said first value received, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request; and derive, in said first compute element, from a third key of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value, an identity of a third server of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third value of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage; wherein the network-interface-card (NIC) is configured to associate said first compute element and said first cache memory with said switching network, and wherein said network-interface-card is further configured to block or delay any communication currently preventing the network-interface-card from immediately performing said sending, thereby preventing said first compute element from waiting before performing said sending, thereby facilitating said efficient usage.
 13. A system operative to efficiently use a compute element to process a plurality of values distributed over a plurality of servers using a plurality of keys, comprising: a first compute element associated with a first cache memory; a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller; and a distributed key-value-store (KVS) comprising a plurality of servers configured to store a plurality of values associated with a plurality of keys, said plurality of servers communicatively connected with said first cache memory via a switching network; wherein said system is configured to: send, from said first compute element, to a second server of said plurality of servers identified using a second key of said plurality of keys, via said switching network, a new request to receive a second value of said plurality of values associated with said second key; and receive, via said switching network, from a first server of said plurality of servers, into said first cache memory, a first value of said plurality of values previously requested in conjunction with a first key of said plurality of keys; and wherein the system is configured to then: process, in said first compute element, in conjunction with said first cache memory, said first value received, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request; and derive, in said first compute element, from a third key of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value, an identity of a third server of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third value of said plurality of values, thereby facilitating said efficient usage; wherein the direct-memory-access (DMA) controller is configured to receive said second value via said switching network directly into said first cache memory, and wherein said direct-memory-access controller frees the first compute element to perform said processing simultaneously with said receiving of said second value, thereby facilitating said efficient usage.
 14. A method for efficiently mixing and timing at least two key-value transactions in conjunction with a distributed key-value-store (KVS), comprising: starting, by a direct-memory-access (DMA) controller, a first process of receiving via a switching network, from a first server of a plurality of servers, directly into a first cache memory associated with a first compute element, a first value of a plurality of values previously requested and associated with a first key of a plurality of keys; deriving in said first compute element, from a second key of said plurality of keys, simultaneously with at least one part of said first process, an identity of a second server of said plurality of servers into which to send a new request for a second value of said plurality of values; sending, via said switching network from said first compute element to said second server identified, said new request; finishing, by said direct-memory-access controller, said first process of receiving; and then processing said first value received, in said first compute element, simultaneously with said second server and switching network handling of said new request.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: deriving, in said first compute element, from a third of said plurality of keys, during a first period prior to receiving and processing said second value, an identity of a third of said plurality of servers into which to send a future request for a third of said plurality of values. 